EDMONTON — An Edmonton woman has been fined $2,500 for trying to avoid paying taxes on luxury goods she brought back from England.
Yvonne Van Slageren, 40, pleaded guilty Wednesday in provincial court to one count under the Canada Customs Act of making false statements.
Judge Darlene Wong took Van Slageren to task for doing her smuggling attempt in front of her son.
Court heard Van Slageren, a database analyst for the provincial government’s Advanced Education department, arrived at Calgary International Airport on Aug. 29 with a companion and her teenage son following a trip to London, England.
The woman, who also owns her own computer software company, wrote a declaration stating she had bought the maximum $750 worth of goods allowed.
But a search of their luggage turned up a total of $11,286 in purchases which were not declared and the items were then seized.
Included in the seized goods were two Gucci purses, a Louis Vuitton scarf, Emporio Armani perfume, a DKNY watch, a Buckingham Palace Red Tea Caddy, a Royal Collection Teapot and Princess Diana Bone China plates.
Court heard Van Slageren evaded paying $1,587 in duty and GST on the goods and she will also have to pay a $3,100 penalty to recover the seized goods.