A POPULAR fashion and lifestyle apparel brand from Japan is the latest victim of counterfeiting experts after an enforcement team busted an outlet that was selling likenesses of its clothing.
Uniqlo Co. Ltd, well-known for its casual wear and designer clothing, has dozens of retail stores in Malaysia.
The raiding party was led by the Penang enforcement division of the Domestic Trade and Living Costs Ministry yesterday.
During the raid, the team together with representatives of legal firm Shearn Delamore & Co swooped in on a wholesale apparel outlet at Jalan Baru in Butterworth.
The raid was conducted by a ten-member team empowered to take action under the Trade Description Act 2011 after an initial assessment was done on the outlet.
The team found 120 pieces of imitation pants worth RM2,400.
The case is being investigated under Section 102 (1) (c) of the Trade Description Act which provides for a fine of not more than RM15,000 upon conviction for each bogus item with the original brand name or logo wrongly used.
For repeat offenders, the penalty is a fine not more than RM30,000 for each bogus item or imprisonment of not more than five years, or both.
The ministry’s state director S.R. Jegan stressed that the division will not tolerate any attempt to market imitation consumer goods in Penang.
Anyone with information on such activities can contact the division through its operations room (04-3840245), the enforcement command centre at (03-8882 6088) or a general call centre line at 1-800- 886800 or email to [email protected] or send a WhatsApp message to the ministry at 019-2794317. – The Vibes, January 18, 2024
