Marilyn Monroe shoe fans feel the pinch

A Zurich couple who hit the headlines after buying a pair of high-heel shoes which belonged to the film star, Marilyn Monroe, have run into trouble with Swiss customs officials.

A Zurich couple who hit the headlines after buying a pair of high-heel shoes which belonged to the film star, Marilyn Monroe, have run into trouble with Swiss customs officials.

Daniel Amberg and Esther Kreis have been fined SFr3,300 and ordered to pay SFr4,000 in Value Added Tax after failing to declare the shoes when they returned to Zurich Airport from New York last October.

The Monroe fans had borrowed money from friends and are now in debt after buying the shoes at Christie’s auction house for SFr52,000.

Newspaper articles and media attention drew the attention of customs officials to the case.

“We are being punished for something which we cannot help,” said a disappointed Esther Kreis. “We were wrongly informed by Christie’s auction house in New York,” she added.

The couple are having second thoughts about lodging an appeal against the fine. “If we go against the decision, we risk an even higher penalty and massive lawyers’ fees,” said Kreis. “Perhaps I can pay the amount in instalments,” she added.

By Robert Brookes