Importer ordered to pay €14,414 in customs duty

An importer of fresh fish from Oman was ordered to pay €14,414 in customs duty which he attempted to evade between October 2004 and February 2006.

The First hall of the Civil Court today heard how Kevin Attard, sole director of Customs and Freight Agency Limited imported fish on behalf of a number of fishmonger. While Attard had a licence to operate as a customs clearing agent, he was not authorised to import fish, hence he made use of third party permits.

Following suspicions of tax evasion, Customs investigated Attard. Documents exhibited in court read the accused imported fish for a number of fishmongers, and also acted as their customs broker.

Police investigations led by Inspector Ian Abdilla revealed how Attard would request Oman Fisheries for an invoice showing a price cheaper than that paid. This invoice would be used for customs and tax declarations. Examining Attard's computers, the Police Cyber Crime Unit found, the accused would then issue an invoice with a profit mark up to Ice Products, C&L Calleja, Bugeja Fish Shop and Micallef Fish Shop, on behalf of whom the fish was imported.

However, Kevin Attard reiterated that the TDID/SAD documentation exhibited at court showed fish imports made by other people. He insisted he was simply a customs clearance agent and was not responsible for payment of duty.

Mr Justice Gino Camilleri held the Comptroller of Customs had sufficiently proved his claim that Attard was indeed importing the fish himself, then selling it to others at a profit. The First Hall of the Civil Court ordered Attard to pay €14,414 owed in custom duty, together with all relative court expenses.