GERMANY/FILE: Customs confiscates Canadian pop star Justin Bieber's capuchin monkey

Record ID: 858099

  • Title: GERMANY/FILE: Customs confiscates Canadian pop star Justin Bieber's capuchin monkey
  • Date: 30th March 2013
  • Summary: MUNICH, GERMANY (MARCH 30, 2013) (REUTERS) VARIOUS EXTERIORS OF MUNICH AIRPORT SPOKESMAN FOR MUNICH AIRPORT CUSTOMS, THOMAS MEISTER, WALKING INTO ROOM VARIOUS OF MEISTER TALKING TO JOURNALIST (SOUNDBITE) (German) SPOKESMAN FOR MUNICH AIRPORT CUSTOMS, THOMAS MEISTER, SAYING: "We carried out a check on a traveller and in doing so discovered a live monkey. The appropriate documents could not be produced so we were obliged to confiscate the monkey." CLOSE OF CUSTOMS TIE PIN (SOUNDBITE) (German) SPOKESMAN FOR MUNICH AIRPORT CUSTOMS, THOMAS MEISTER, SAYING: "There is still a possibility for the necessary documents to be provided post the event. In that case the relevant authorities will reevaluate the situation. And then we will see if he will be able to get the animal back." CLOSE OF CUSTOMS BADGE (SOUNDBITE) (German) SPOKESMAN FOR MUNICH AIRPORT CUSTOMS, THOMAS MEISTER, SAYING: "The animal was confiscated by us and has been found appropriate animal housing. The animal is doing very well." MEISTER TALKING TO JOURNALIST
  • Embargoed: 14th April 2013 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: United Kingdom
  • City:
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Topics: Entertainment
  • Reuters ID: LVABYEIMRWFQLXQUMSPJTQ300469
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: Canadian pop star Justin Bieber has been left without his travelling companion after German customs officials took his pet monkey into quarantine last week for not having the appropriate paperwork.
    According to media reports the 19-year-old singer had flown into Germany with the capuchin monkey without correct documentation.
    "We carried out a check on a traveller and in doing so discovered a live monkey," said a spokesman for Munich airport customs, Thomas Meister on Saturday (March 30). "The appropriate documents could not be produced so we were obliged to confiscate the monkey.
    "There is still a possibility for the necessary documents to be provided post the event. In that case the relevant authorities will reevaluate the situation. And then we will see if he will be able to get the animal back."
    Bieber had been in Munich for a concert last Thursday (March 28) on the latest leg of his European tour, he left Munich for Vienna by bus, without the monkey.
    "The animal was confiscated by us and has been found appropriate animal housing. The animal is doing very well," Meister said of the animal's well-being.
    Thursday's antics are the latest in a series of odd incidents involving the teen singer, who has recently also been in the media for an altercation with his neighbour and for startling photographers and Polish airport officials by stripping off his shirt on a freezing evening as he walked through security and to his private jet.
    On March 8 Bieber was caught on film losing his temper with a paparazzi photographer in London. The Canadian's stay in the UK was further marred when he was booed by his beloved fans when he showed up late to a concert.
    During another show at London's 02 Arena the star struggled with his breathing and fainted backstage.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2013. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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