Updated with arraignment at 1.15pm

A man was today fined over €4,000 after he pleaded guilty to breaching Cash Control Regulations.

Romanian Adrian-Valentin Theodoru, 37, arrived in Malta on a flight from Istanbul yesterday.

In a statement this morning, the Customs Department said he failed to declare €15,850, $193 and 426 Romanian Leu. Mr Theodoru was accompanied by a woman, Daniela Popescu, who was also held. 

She was however released later as €10,000 is just within the legal limit.

During his arraignment today, before duty magistrate Gabriella Vella, the man admitted to the charges and refused the assistance of a lawyer.

On the basis of this admission, the court declared the accused guilty and imposed a fine of €4,026, equivalent to 25% of the global sum found in his possession. 

The €10,000, to which travellers are entitled in terms of law, were returned to the accused. The remaining €6,106 were confiscated in favour of the state coffers.

Inspector Antonovitch Muscat prosecuted.