U.S. pilot's gesture brings Brazilian fine

Andrew wrote:

Otis Willie wrote:


U.S. pilot's gesture brings Brazilian fine

SAO PAULO, Brazil (Agence France-Presse) -- American Airlines
apologized to Brazil yesterday for one of its pilots who was detained
at Sao Paulo airport, fined $12,700 dollars and released after for
making an obscene gesture when he was required to be fingerprinted and
photographed. Federal police here said Dale Robbin Hersh, 52, pilot on
American's Miami-Sao Paulo flight, raised his middle finger as his
photo was being taken by airport security personnel. "He made an
internationally recognized obscene gesture to the police who were
photographing him," federal police spokesman Wagner Castilho said at
a press conference. Police later showed the photo of Mr. Hersh, his
middle finger raised. Mr. Castilho said Mr. Hersh had been detained for
"a serious offense" which could have brought a prison term of up to two
years. But federal prosecutor Matheus Baraldi Magnani said he asked a
local magistrate to impose a fine rather than go to trial, for what he
termed Mr. Hersh's "insulting behavior." The judge complied, fining Mr.
Hersh 36,000 reals, about $12,700, and releasing him. The fine, said
the judge, represented 150 times the Brazilian minimum monthly wage
and took into account "the pilot's financial circumstances and his
insult to national pride and the federal police." He said American
He said American Airlines agreed to pay Mr. Hersh's fine, which would
be contributed to a social service organization. Mr. Hersh, although
Mr. Hersh, although released from custody late yesterday, would not be
allowed to leave the country until American Airlines' check cleared,
court sources said. American Airlines issued a statement apologizing
American Airlines issued a statement apologizing for the incident.
The company apologizes to the Brazilian government, to the port
authorities, to the federal police, and to whoever else feels they
were disrespected," said the statement, which went on to stress that
the captain "did not intend any disrespect." Brazil had ordered all
Americans to be photographed and fingerprinted when entering the
country -- a tit-for-tat response to the U.S. move to photograph
and fingerprint all people entering the United States on a visa.

http://washingtontimes.com/world/200...4649-2781r.htm
---------------------------
Otis Willie
Associate Librarian
The American War Library
http://www.americanwarlibrary.com




Here's the notorious mug shot:
http://w3.kill-9.com/pilotoamericano1.jpg

Andrew


You have got to be kidding me!! Jeesh! That's not a gesture, that's
holding a piece of paper! What's the penalty for winking?!?