TELEGRAMS

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 146, 17 December 1913, Page 3

TELEGRAMS

EVASION OF CUSTOMS DUTY FINE OF £200. (PMiSS ASSOCIATION.) AUCKLAND, 16th December. A prosecution of Lionel Cohen by the Customs Department was heard in tho Police Court by Mr. Frazar, S.M., today. The defendant pleaded guilty to the two chargce brought against him. Tho first was that, on 3rd December, when landing from the Maheno, he declared that he had no dutiable goods in his luggage °r on his person, \vherea6 a search revealed that ho brought ashore five gold watches, bracelets, one rolled gold watch, and one pair of earrings valued at £39. The second was that, on 9th December, he made a false declaration that certain watches wore valued at £33 los, when the amount should have been £11 or £12 larger. "The whole of the circumstances arc susnicious," said Mr. Frazer. The story as to why the articles were placed in various parts of the bag was rather far fetched. He did not see how he could be expectfid to believe the explanation that had been offered. In the statement with regard to the false declaration there might be an element of truth, and he would regard it as a first offence. On that charge the fine would be £100, and he would reduce it to £25 under 6ection 202 of the Act. On tho other charge a fine of £100, and costs, would be imposed.