Fake Casio watches seized

Friday, 18 January 2019 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

By S.S. Selvanayagam

A huge stock of fake Casio watches were recently seized at Majestic City, Bambalapitiya on a raid conducted by Colombo Crimes Division.

The raid was conducted under the direction of the Director Colombo Crimes Division SP Nishantha De Soyza and under the supervision of OIC CCD CI Neville Silva, together with a team led by IP R.M.B. Rathnayaka and IP L. Ranasinghe, upon complaints by the company Tokyo based Casio Computer Co. Ltd.

Colombo Chief Magistrate Lanka Jayarathna issued search warrants against the errant traders selling counterfeit products.

The Colombo Crimes Division informed court that it was able to track down the counterfeit sellers through intensive surveillance that was conducted. Through its investigations it was revealed that most of the shops were selling the fake Casio watches discreetly with the attempt of misleading the consumer.

The complainant further stated in the complaint that the counterfeiters were violating its intellectual property rights, causing severe loss and damage to its goodwill and reputation by the sale of counterfeit items and misleading the consumer.

The owners of the shops selling the counterfeit items, were produced before court and released on bail. The matters are currently pending before the Courts.

The sale of counterfeit goods is an infringement under the Intellectual Property Act No 36. of 2003. Under the said act, if a person and/or persons are convicted, a fine up to Rs. 500,000 and up to six months imprisonment, or both may be imposed.

Deshan Hewavithana instructed by Sudath Perera Associates appeared on behalf of Casio Computer Co. Ltd.