Arnold Schwarzenegger 2019 in San Diego: According to customs, the case is likely to have criminal consequences for the actor

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Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP

Hollywood star Arnold Schwarzenegger was temporarily detained by customs at Munich Airport on Wednesday because he allegedly failed to declare a valuable luxury watch.

Several media later reported problems with the payment of outstanding funds: According to this, the officials tried in vain for an hour to debit the sum from Schwarzenegger's credit card using a payment device.

They then allegedly took him to an ATM, which was unable to pay out such a large sum.

The associated bank was also closed.

The 76-year-old ultimately made the payment using a new card reader.

The main customs office in Munich now contradicts this representation.

As a spokesman told SPIEGEL, the officials only tried for 15 minutes to debit the outstanding tax payment from Schwarzenegger's credit card using a payment device.

The transaction then worked with a replacement device.

Another payment - a security deposit that the actor had to pay as part of criminal tax proceedings that have now been initiated - could not be paid with the same credit card due to internal security guidelines.

Schwarzenegger then went to an ATM – without official accompaniment.

"We deliberately weren't there because we didn't want to cause a stir and sent him into the public area without customs officials," said the spokesman.

However, the actor returned without any cash.

An “other solution” was then found for the outstanding payment of the security deposit.

Probably criminal consequences for Schwarzenegger

The film star had the watch with him to auction it off on Thursday at a charity event near Kitzbühel for environmental protection, as the climate initiative he founded announced.

In Munich, Schwarzenegger agreed to pay customs for his personal watch, the Schwarzenegger Climate Initiative said at the request of the German Press Agency.

"He cooperated at all times, even though it was an incompetent investigation, a total comedy full of errors, but one that would make a very funny police film," the statement said.

According to customs, the case is likely to have criminal consequences for Schwarzenegger.

»We have taken up the matter.

The case is now going to the responsible penalty and fine office in Augsburg,” said the customs spokesman.

"We hope that Germany invests as much energy in restructuring its economy and making it more ecological as it does in imposing tariffs on people's property," said Schwarzenegger's climate initiative.

The proceeds from the auction will benefit climate projects.

The actor also wants to attend the Hahnenkamm race in Kitzbühel, Austria, this weekend.

swe/dpa