On Monday, we told you about the American Missionary Couple who tried to get into the country without declaring $46,000 dollars. Well tonight, you meet Chinese Nationals 35 year-old Fenglan Wu, and 38 year-old Chenbo Xu, who tried to get into the country without declaring that they had $20,000 in cash on them.
The married couple arrived at the PGIA on Monday with $10,000 US; they filled out the declaration form, but did not put on the form that they had the money on them. When they were searched by Customs, the officers discovered the cash and handed them over to the police who charged them with failure to declare funds over $10,000 Bze.
They were arraigned yesterday before the Chief Magistrate, where their attorney Ellis Arnold submitted to the court that they weren't breaking any laws because they were perfectly within their rights not to declare since they each claimed $5,000 US each. The FIU attorney responded stating that they chose to charge them jointly since they were a couple and because the money was found in one lump sum. Chief Magistrate Smith agreed with the FIU and upheld the charges against both accused.
Xu then pleaded guilty, while his wife, Wu, pleaded not guilty and was granted bail of $1,000. Their attorney asked the court to expedite the case because the couple were tourists and wanted to be able to leave the country. Instead of sentencing Xu, the court decided to deal with that issue when they were to return on Friday.
The FIU, however, expedited the process so that they both could have returned today where the charge against Wu was withdrawn. For his guilty plea, Xu was sentenced to pay a fine of $20,000, the exact amount as that which he didn't declare. He paid the money and was released from custody along with his wife and their travel documents.
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