AUCKLAND: She won an Oscar for her role in the movie ‘Million Dollar Baby’ but in the eyes of a New Zealand court, Hilary Swank is a 200-dollar fruit felon.

Swank, 30, who earned the best actress Oscar last month for her role as a boxer in the film, has been hit by a $200 New Zealand fine for failing to declare an apple and an orange when she flew into Auckland from Los Angeles, officials said on March 30.

In addition she has been ordered to pay an additional 30 dollars in court costs.

Swank could have paid an instant 200-dollar fine at Auckland International Airport when she arrived in January, but instead chose to fight. She wrote a letter to the court defending herself.

The Manukau District Court rejected her explanation, imposed the fine and then added costs in a closed door hearing without lawyers on March 18. Court officials then refused to disclose the outcome, saying the decision had been sealed and would be sent to Swank. The ministry of agriculture and forestry said Swank had admitted liability and explained the circumstances in her letter. New Zealand has strict biosecurity regulations aimed at keeping the country free of pests and diseases that could seriously damage its agriculture industry. International passengers are obliged to declare all foodstuffs they may be carrying when entering New Zealand. — AFP