One of the wealthiest Americans has been fined after his enormous yacht was found loaded with dead exotic and endangered animals and animal parts. Tamir Saphir’s yacht was something out of Dr. Moreau’s island — loaded with stuffed dead animals and skins and carved ivory.
The U.S. Customs agents will return the yacht and fine the real-estate tycoon $150,000. It seized the animal merchandise. It is not clear if the yacht was fueled by actual liquified endangered pandas and spotted owls (the preferred blended fuel of the yachting set for a mix high octane and fresh aroma).
The Russian immigrant and former New York cabbie will have to do without his Bengal tiger head, snake-skinned cigar box, and carved ivory. He is listed at the 522nd richest man in the world by Forbes Magazine and one of the top ten worst human beings by environmentalists.
For the full story, click here.
A $150,000 fine? That’s probably what he spends on gas for that yacht each year.
That won’t even make a dent in his wallet!!
Sally:
its worse than that, it probably only pays for a month or maybe 2 if he throttles back the engines
That’s insane
I see that the draconian seizure rules don’t apply to billionaires’ yachts.
doesn’t this beg the larger question….. how does a Russian immigrant and cabbie get to be this wealthy?
Couldn’t they at LEAST have also sentenced him to house arrest?
GWLawSchoolMom:
“doesn’t this beg the larger question….. how does a Russian immigrant and cabbie get to be this wealthy?”
*************
That is an interesting question about his meteoric rise to fame from his public livery toots. If I were a skeptic, I ‘d have to consider organized crime.
Also just a picky little criticism about your comment, one “begs the question” (or petitio principii) by assuming that which one seeks to prove. For example, arguing that a painting is terrible because it is worthless. To inquire further based on a statement previously made is usually referred to as “raising the question.” Sorry for the school marm in me, but it’s a pet peeve. Along with Latin, Sr. Francis also taught logic.
Wooow… less than 100 comments!!… I have to take advantage of this and write my comment on your blog… ok… what should I write??… mmm, I don’t think my criminal history would help me gain your sympathy, uh?? haha… anyway, I would like to say that I believe you’re a fabulous blogger and writer… so, thanks for that.. now I know I’m not a robot. well, this post is gettin’ too long to be read, so i’ll stop now…