Directors appeal ‘unsafe’ hand sanitiser conviction
COMPANY directors who were convicted of supplying unsafe hand sanitiser during the Covid-19 pandemic have appealed their guilty verdicts.
Digbeth-based wholesalers Big Living Ltd provided hundreds of containers which were advertised as containing 80 per cent alcohol when in reality some of them contained less than 30 per cent, a trial heard.
The firm, along with its directors Jeewan Sagu, aged 41, of Birchall Street, Digbeth, Rajika Sagu, 36, from Wake Green Road, Moseley, and Desktop IT Ltd – a business in its own right – were found guilty of four offences. They included placing an unsafe product on the market, causing another trader to engage in a commercial practice which was a misleading action and misleading advertising.
The fourth offence related to failing to adopt measures under the General Product Safety Regulations.
They were due to be sentenced this week but Birmingham Crown Court heard that they are contesting the decision.
Mark Jackson, prosecuting on behalf of Birmingham City Council, said: “They were convicted at the magistrates’ court but have appealed the conviction. From a prosecution point of view, our preference would be for a sentencing hearing to take place irrespective of the fact appeals.’’
However, the defence submitted that the appeal should take place before anyone is sentenced.
“It seems to us, aside from our preference, that makes logical sense and no doubt the course the court wants to adopt.”
The case was adjourned for a fourday appeal hearing at Birmingham Crown Court starting on August 7 next year.