US tourist fined for obscene gesture at airport
A US tourist has been fined nearly £10,000 for raising his middle finger to a Brazilian customs officer.
Douglas Skolnick, from New Jersey, was protesting at controversial new entry procedures for US citizens.
He made the gesture at an airport near Foz do Iguacu while agents photographed and fingerprinted him.
The 55-year-old is the second American to be charged with showing contempt to authorities since Brazil implemented its new entry policy on January 1, says The Star-Ledger.
An American Airlines pilot, Dale Robin Hersh, was jailed, fined £7,000 and sent home from Brazil last month for making the same gesture while he was being photographed.
Marcos Koren, a spokesman for Brazil's federal police, said Skolnick told authorities he was aware of the pilot's arrest and was making a joke when he raised his finger.
"Skolnick said he had no intention of insulting the Brazilian authorities or the Brazilian people, but we don't think that's true," said Mr Koren.
The money from the fine will be split between Brazilian charities for the elderly and children.
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