By Fiqah Roslan
RM196,400 counterfeit POLO clothes seized
KOTA KINABALU: The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDNHEP) Sabah made its largest seizure to date for this year under the Trade Descriptions Act 2011, involving RM196,400 worth of allegedly counterfeit POLO clothing merchandise.
KPDNHEP Sabah director Georgie Abas said the seizure was made upon receiving a complaint from an official representative of The POLO/Lauren Company, LP, claiming that an outlet at a renowned shopping mall here was selling imitation products at the price of authentic goods.
According to Georgie, the outlet which had been operating for 12 years received stocks from headquarters in Kuala Lumpur and kept a stock card of inventory.
Upon inspection by the complainant, who is a company representative from KL, goods sold at the shop were not what were sent from headquarters.
The complainant also discovered that the amount of stock given to the shop did not tally with merchandise sold.
“After conducting surveillance, the complainant alerted KPDNHEP Sabah and the owner of the store, along with two employees, were apprehended.
“Among items seized were 1,117 units of various men’s clothes, 640 units of various POLO clothes, 159 units of various POLO women’s clothes, 11 units of various POLO trousers, 27 units of POLO hats and 10 units of POLO neckties. The shop is currently operating as usual but with original goods,” said Georgie.
In addition, KPDNHEP Sabah enforcement officers also seized a certificate of ownership of the POLO brand under Syarikat PT Primajaya Pantesgarment Indonesia, as well as a Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK) licence.
If found guilty under Section 8 (2) (b) of the Act, the store owner is liable to a fine of up to RM10,000 for each counterfeit item or jail of not more than three years or both, while a second offence carries a fine of up to RM30,000 per counterfeit item or a maximum of five years’ jail, or both.
Georgie reminded business owners to do their due diligence when conducting business and to ensure the authenticity of their products.
He said KPDNHEP Sabah would not tolerate such misconduct.
“We would not compromise if we receive complaints. We do our own surveillance as well from time to time, and we would take firm action against those who break the law,” he said.
As of November 30 this year, KPDNHEP Sabah seized RM556,549.39 worth of goods under the Act, involving 118 cases of mostly counterfeit products. Cases under other Acts amounted to 1,081 out of 47,065 visits, with seizures valued at RM7,296,507.66.
KPDNHEP Sabah also collected RM410,863 worth of compounds and RM134,300 from fine payments, while 819 of the 1,081 cases have been solved.