Updated with arraignment at 2.30pm

An Omani-born passenger on a private flight landing at the Malta International Airport last night was escorted to court this morning where he was fined after he admitted to have been in possession of some $17,900 in undeclared cash.

Yousef Dadullah Mohammed Al Zadjali, 58, born in Muscat, holder of a British passport and residing in Yorkshire, was travelling on a private flight from Istanbul to Malta.

Shortly after landing at around 6.30pm, while passing through airport security screening, the passenger was found to be carrying bundles of cash which totalled around $27,000 well in excess of the €10,000 legal limit.

The excess undeclared cash was seized by customs officials while the passenger was arrested.

Proceedings before duty magistrate Neville Camilleri this morning were conducted in English for the benefit of the accused who turned down the offer of legal assistance even though the court informed him of his right to be assisted by a lawyer.

Once the charges were read out in open court by the prosecuting officer, the arrested man immediately registered an admission.

Two representatives from the Customs Department testified and exhibited the confiscated cash in court.

On the basis of all evidence put forward and the accused’s own admission, the court declared him guilty and condemned him to a fine of €6,305.90.

Inspector Antonovitch Muscat prosecuted.