The Tribune

By PAVEL BAILEY

Tribune Court Reporter

pbailey@tribunemedia.net

AN American man was fined yesterday after admitting to making a false declaration at the airport. This admission resulted in him losing $70,000 in casino winnings which was seized at the time of his arrest.

Beateugene Neff, 46, faced Magistrate Kendra Kelly on a charge of making a false report.

On December 6 at LPIA while attempting to return home after staying at Atlantis, Neff was arrested after he falsely declared to a US officer that he only had $70,000. In actuality the accused was travelling with $77,990; he attributed the bulk of the sum to his recent wins at the casino.

In a subsequent interview the accused admitted to the offence, but said that he misunderstood the forms and didn’t realise he had to also declare the money he brought with him upon his arrival.

Neff pleaded guilty to the offence in court. In mitigation the defendant’s counsel informed the magistrate that his client is a frequent visitor to the country. He further stated that the defendant had no intention to deceive officers and that the false claim was a mistake made in Neff’s rush to return home.

In view of this the magistrate fined the defendant $500 for the offence and ordered that the confiscated funds from Neff’s arrest remain forfeited to the Crown. Upon hearing his sentence Neff asked the magistrate for leniency pleading that he was unfamiliar with the forms and saying that he didn’t do anything wrong.

While Magistrate Kelly informed the accused of his right to appeal her sentencing, she also told Neff that the appeal would only apply to his fine and not the forfeiture of cash.