THE High Court has ordered the forfeiture of more than $80,000 of detained currencies that a New Caledonian couple failed to declare upon their entry into the country early this year.
Prosecution has successfully lodged the application to the High Court seeking forfeiture of the detained money to the State.
Justice James Apaniai having satisfied that the detained currencies were not declared made the order for its forfeiture to the State.
The New Caledonians have failed to declare 10,000 Euro, which is equivalent to SBD$89,126.56.
They arrived in the country on February 18, this year from Vanuatu as tourists.
Both were fined a total of $32,000 after pleading guilty to the charges of failing to declare foreign currencies to the Customs & Immigration and false declaration, in the Honiara Magistrates’ Court in early March.
The money was to buy local artifacts from locals.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN