The Attorney General applied for civil forfeiture of $29,900 found in an abandoned suitcase.
The claimant asserted ownership of the cash.
The parties reached a settlement to forfeit $25,900 and return $4,000 to the claimant.
The court found the cash was the proceeds of unlawful activity and the claimant failed to prove legitimate ownership.
The court refused to give effect to the settlement, holding that Rule 49 is not an independent basis for an order under the Civil Remedies Act, and ordered the entire $29,900 forfeited to the Crown.
