By FARRAH JOHNSON
Tribune Staff Reporter
fjohnson@tribunemedia.net
A HAITIAN man who failed to declare nearly $20,000 in cash when he attempted to travel back to his home country had his money forfeited to the Crown yesterday.
Shiller Senatus, 56, was arrested on August 8 after he failed to notify Bahamian customs officers that he was travelling to Haiti with $19,476.
The prosecution said that day, a police control unit went to the international departure lounge of the airport to conduct inquiries of Senatus, who was scheduled to travel on a flight from Nassau to the Turks & Caicos and then onwards to Port-au-Prince.
The court was told that when they searched Senatus, they found the notable sum of money and questioned him. Senatus, who admitted the funds were his, which he had not declared at customs.
He was subsequently arrested and charged.
During the hearing, Senatus pleaded guilty. He was represented by attorney Tonique Lewis who told the magistrate her client was a permanent resident and father-of-four. She said the fact his money would be added to the Public Treasury already posed a financial setback on Senatus. She added that he was detained for two nights which, she argued, was punishment enough.
As a result, Magistrate McKinney fined the accused $500 or three months in custody. He said once the fine was paid, the funds confiscated from Senatus would be forfeited to the Crown.
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