Arnold Schwarzenegger detained in Munich over 'unregistered luxury watch' and faces tax law inquiry
MUNICH, GERMANY: Arnold Schwarzenegger is detained in Munich, Germany, as per media reports. ‘The Terminator’ star was stopped at the airport and was questioned "under tax law" over carrying an unregistered luxury watch.
The actor was visiting to attend a climate charity auction where he planned to put his watch for bidding.
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Arnold planned on attending a charity event in Austria
The BILD reported Arnold was seen with customs officers after he flew from LA on Wednesday, January 17.
He holds dual citizenship of Austria and the US and was planning on participating in the event scheduled for Thursday, January 18, in Kitzbühel, Austria.
The local media reports that the ex-California governor was carrying a valuable timepiece made by Swiss luxury brand Audemars Piguet, reports DailyMail.
Munich Main Customs Office spokesperson, Thomas Meister, told BILD, “'We have initiated criminal proceedings under tax law. The watch should have been registered because it is an import.”
“If the goods remain in the EU, you have to declare them through customs. This applies to everyone, whether their name is Schwarzenegger or Müller, Meier, Huber," a customs spokesman told German outlet SZ.
“This takes a bit of time,” said the spokesman, who said about the fact that the star is still with the authorities and will soon be allowed to go ahead with his trip.
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What's the name of Arnold's charity?
Schwarzenegger has started a Vienna-based charity 'The Schwarzenegger Climate Initiative,' an eco group that is raising funds at a party during the prestigious race week.
Amid the ongoing war between Israel-Hamas, the actor attended the event where he was honored by the Holocaust Museum in LA for his relentless commitment and fight against antisemitism and bigotry.
The star was chosen for the inaugural Award of Courage at the annual gala on Monday, November 6, at the Beverly Hills Hotel.
The ex-Governor of California expressed his desire to advocate "for inclusion against hatred" and to speak out against discrimination based on factors such as religion, religious background, color, or gender, emphasizing the importance of treating everyone's life with equality.
Arnold expressed the importance of advocating for change, especially considering his country's historical involvement in the Second World War and the prevalence of vicious Nazis.
He believed it was crucial to convey the message that the next generation has the power to break away from past ideologies and foster positive transformation.
