Scrooge’s ‘free feed’ costs him $1300 after being caught lying to airport officials

A SCROOGE who lied to airport officials so he could have a free feed with his partner at Darwin Airport’s international lounge has found himself on the wrong side of Commonwealth anti-terror laws

A scrooge has been caught lying to airport officials so he could have a free feed at Darwin Airport’s international lounge

A SCROOGE who lied to airport officials so he could have a free feed with his partner at Darwin Airport’s international lounge has found himself on the wrong side of Commonwealth anti-terror laws.

Justin John Robinson, 35, pleaded guilty in Darwin Local Court to presenting a false outgoing passenger card and recklessly making a false or misleading statement to a Border Force officer.

The court heard Robinson had been given vouchers to the Catalina Lounge at a Palmerston Regional Business Association function and decided to redeem them before his partner jetted off on a girls’ weekend to Bali.

Commonwealth Prosecutor Sarah Gibbs said Robinson showed up to the airport with his passport, cleared immigration and filled out an outgoing passenger card saying he was jetting off to “Indo”.

After a meal in the leather-lined airport lounge, Robinson approached a Border Force officer asking to be let out of the departures area, saying he had left his wallet in his car.

But when told he would have to leave his passport behind, Robinson said he abandoned his travel plans, which checks with Qantas revealed never existed.

Ms Gibbs said Robinson had broken laws that were in place to help tackle the threat of terrorism at airports.

“(Officials) diverted important AFP and Border Force resources because they were dealing with the defendant,” she said.

She said only legitimate travellers should be in the outgoing passenger area.

Peter Maley, for Robinson, said his client was sorry for what he had done.

“It was stupid conduct,” he said.

“He misled the authorities. He didn’t have a ticket, he wasn’t going to get on a plane.”

Judge Tanya Fong Lim said Robinson’s desire for a free feed had ended up wasting the time of Border Force and AFP officers.

“You went in there thinking the rules don’t apply to you,” she said.

She fined Robinson $1300 and convicted him on both offences.

Entry to the lounge is $45.