Arnold Schwarzenegger was detained for three hours this past Wednesday by German customs agents at Munich airport for failing to declare a valuable luxury watch. The former governor of California was on his way to Austria, the actor's native country.
Finally, the matter was clarified and the actor was able to continue his trip, a spokesperson for the main customs office in Munich reported to the weekly Der Spiegel on Wednesday afternoon. According to the media, criminal tax proceedings have been opened against the interpreter, although he was able to take the watch.
According to customs authorities, Schwarzenegger had not declared any valuable luxury watches upon his arrival in Munich, despite being obliged to do so. "If the goods remain in the EU, taxes and duties must be paid on them," said the customs spokesman. "This applies to everyone. We have taken up the matter. The case will now go to the competent criminal and fines office in Augsburg. ".
As reported by the German media, customs agents detained the Terminator protagonist for several hours and asked him all kinds of questions, ranging from how much his assets were valued to how many children he had. At all times, the actor maintained that the watch was the object to be auctioned for a good cause at a gala dinner prior to a climate summit to be held in Kitzbühel (Austria), this Thursday, January 18.
Finally, the actor had to face taxes of 35,000 euros for importing the watch into the European Union, in addition to a financial penalty of 5,000 euros. Half of the total sum also had to be in cash, so a customs official accompanied him to a bank branch.
According to the newspaper Bild, Schwarzenegger also plans to attend the Hahnenkamm ski race in the town of Kitzbühel, in the Austrian Alps.
