If Andrew Hamilton had declared his electronic equipment he was carrying in his suitcase when he returned to Grand Cayman from Tampa USA he would have had to pay CI$3,499.16.

Instead, he now has to pay CI$13,996.54 within three months before he gets the equipment worth US$18,954.87 returned to him.

Hamilton, who owns an electronics business, tried to evade the customs duty, by hiding the equipment he had bought in the US in the lining of two of his four suitcases.

Customs officers seized the undeclared items.

During an interview, Hamilton claimed to have mistakenly made a false declaration on his customs form.

In Summary Court last Thursday (12) Magistrate Grace Donalds also ordered Hamilton to serve 150 hours of community service.

Under the Customs Law it is required to charge three times the evaded duty and for the outstanding duty to be paid on top of that.

You have been warned.