The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) has successfully busted the sale of suspected counterfeit branded goods with a seizure value of RM600,000 through raids at three separate premises in Johor Bahru on Monday.
KPDN Enforcement Director-General, Datuk Azman Adam said the operation carried out by the Putrajaya Enforcement Division targeted premises that were selling various well-known branded goods without the permission of the registered trademark owner.
He said the action was the result of a month-long intelligence investigation into traders who were believed to be carrying out sales activities at a major shopping mall and were suspected of supplying products to other traders.
According to him, the raiding team seized various types of goods believed to be using trademarks incorrectly, including clothing, handbags, wallets, belts, perfumes and several related business documents.
The total value of the seizure is estimated at RM600,000.
He said that preliminary inspection and verification with the complainant's representative found that there was reasonable cause to believe that an offence under the law had been committed.
In the same operation, the KPDN also arrested four local citizens consisting of the owner and caretaker of the premises to assist in the investigation as they were believed to be involved in the management of the business in question.
The case is being investigated under Section 102(1)(c) of the Trademark Act 2019 [Act 815].
Individuals convicted of an offence can be fined up to RM10,000 for each counterfeit item or imprisoned for a maximum of three years or both for the first offence.
For subsequent offences, the fine can increase to RM20,000 for each item or imprisoned for a maximum of five years or both.
Datuk Azman said that the KPDN will continue to intensify enforcement operations to combat the sale and distribution of counterfeit goods that infringe intellectual property rights and have the potential to mislead consumers.
