16 July 2012

Card skimmer jailed

A 48 year old Polish man was sentenced in the Manukau District Court last Thursday to three months imprisonment for smuggling bank card skimming equipment into New Zealand.

Jaroslaw Pilat arrived at Auckland International Airport from Malaysia (via Melbourne, Australia) on 22 April 2012.

Aspects of the defendant’s travel arrangements raised Customs suspicions and a search of his baggage revealed a number of items known to be used for the purpose of card skimming.

Manager Investigations, Shane Panettiere, said the defendant claimed that one of the devices was part of a pay television decoder he stole from a Viet Nam hotel that would allow him to access free television in Poland.

“Mr Pilat could not provide a plausible reason for bringing the items into New Zealand, aside from his suggestion that he always carried them,” Mr Panettiere said.

“The technology needed for card skimming is sophisticated and is often hidden in the wiring of equipment such as laptops; however, we know what to look for and this offending is not beyond our detection”.

The defendant was also in possession of cash in various denominations totalling over NZ$15,000, which did not match his earlier statement that he was a mechanic earning an average wage of approximately US$12,000 a year.

In sentencing Judge Moses said that people needed to understand that if they bring items into the country to defraud New Zealand citizens they will receive a firm stance by the court. The Judge went on to say that no sentence short of imprisonment would be able to meet the purposes and principles of the Sentencing Act.

Mr Pilat is eligible for release due to the time spent in custody; but is in the process of being deported. He was charged under sections 54 and 209(1)(a) and (c) of the Customs and Excise Act 1996 for knowingly importing into New Zealand prohibited goods with the intent to facilitate the commission of a crime involving dishonesty.

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