A man who was selling £700,000 worth of counterfeit Rolex, Omega and Hublot watches has been given a prison sentence.
Tower Hamlets Council’s Trading Standards officers found 132 counterfeit watches as well as straps, boxes and bags, when they inspected 5 Star Trading Ltd, Goulston Street in 2017.
During the course of the inspection, shop owner Baldeep Singh Arora attempted to leave with a box of watches but was stopped from leaving.
On 25 January 2024, he was sentenced to 20 months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years for one offence under s.92 Trade Marks Act 1994 relating to six Omega watches, three Hublot watches, nine Cartier watches, and 103 Rolex watches.
A second charge, relating to another 141 watches, was ordered to lie on file.
There is now a proceeds of crime investigation into his finances, which means he could be ordered to pay back any money he has made from illegally selling the watches.
Baldeep Singh had previously been prosecuted by Tower Hamlets Trading Standards Service for similar offences in 2003 and 2008.
Lutfur Rahman, Executive Mayor, said:
“Selling counterfeit goods is not a victimless crime. It takes money away from legitimate businesses and the faked items are usually lower quality and can be unsafe.
“We will continue to inspect businesses in our borough and take action against anyone selling fake goods.”
Posted on Tuesday 20th February 2024