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Notes -
Eh, maybe not:
If it was innocent mistake "I took the wrong case", you would expect that they would try and return it or find the owner. I can't find the report now, but another article on this described them as 'walking briskly' away or some such phrase which was newspaper-speak for "they took the case then ran out of the airport before they could be stopped".
EDIT: It was from the "Statement of Probable Cause" filed with the court
"DEFENDANT removed the blue bag’s tag and put the bag tag in the handbag they were carrying. DEFENDANT then left the area at a quick pace."
Best defence is to claim they were drunk as a skunk after coming off their flight, grabbed the case in a drunken daze, and were too scared to return it once they sobered up. That still doesn't explain "so why were you using the suitcase as your own property?" for further trips, but everyone knows this was theft, we're in the face-saving phase here.
Also possible
The bag used in further trips could also be his, which happens to be the same model. That he stole it for personal use is the least likely explanation, surely he's paid enough that he can afford to buy a $300 bag.
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