Tyre salesman Rajesh Seegobin was yesterday found not guilty of knowingly underreporting £2,000 in cash at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri last year.
Seegobin had been charged in April, 2015, with the offence. It was alleged that he, on March 17, had knowingly made a false declaration of cash, stating he had in his possession £30,300 when he allegedly had £32,300.
When Seegobin led his defence, he told the court that the £30,300 he declared had been his own, while the additional £2,000 belonged to his wife. The man had stated that after he declared his cash at Customs, he had returned to the departure lounge, where he took the money from his pocket and placed it in his wife’s handbag. At the time, her handbag had contained her £2,000, which she had in her possession for the purpose of purchasing a gift.
While going through the scanner, the couple had been approached by ranks from the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), who said they were investigating money laundering and questioned Seegobin about the money he had in his possession. He was later made to surrender the money.
According to Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan, during the witness testimony of Superintendent Tyndall, it was confirmed that Seegobin told the ranks that the extra money belonged to his wife.
The magistrate said that from the evidence presented, she had not found that the defendant had been making an untrue declaration at the time and not only believed that Seegobin was being honest in his testimony, but that the explanation provided by him was acceptable.
She further noted that in traveling, husbands and wives usually share bags in which they keep their travel documents and other items.
The prosecution, therefore, failed to prove their case against Seegobin beyond a reasonable doubt. The Chief Magistrate therefore found him not guilty of the offence and ordered the case dismissed. She added that police are to return the cash they seized, which remains in their custody.
