Two eBay traders operating in Mile End have been handed suspended prison sentences, after their ‘sophisticated’ counterfeits goods operation was exposed.
The two men - Foysal Habib, 44, of Pott Street, E2, and Abu Sufian, 50, of Beryl Avenue, E6 – pleaded guilty in in August 2024 to selling counterfeit Bio-Oil, electrical items, and clothing on the popular online market platform, after a spot check by Tower Hamlets Trading Standards.
The Trading Standards officers confiscated counterfeit items such as fake Apple batteries, Samsung earphones, various adapters and USB cables during the inspection at Sundarbon internet café, Burdett Road.
The two were prosecuted and after initially pleading not guilty at the trial, both defendants changed their plea and admitted their involvement.
Foysal Habib was handed a six-month custodial sentence, suspended for two years and Abu Sufian was handed a nine-month custodial sentence suspended for two years.
The judge described the operation as “sophisticated,” and highlighted Sufian's leading role, noting that a custodial sentence without suspension would have been imposed had he not changed his plea.
Financial penalties under the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) and cost considerations are set to be addressed at a later hearing.
Cllr Shafi Ahmed, Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Emergency, said:
“Selling counterfeit goods is not a victimless crime as fake cosmetics and electronics very often do not meet safety regulations, putting people’s health and potentially their lives in danger.
“The London Fire Brigade has especially warned of the dangers that counterfeit electrical chargers and batteries pose as they have recently been linked to serious injuries and fires in the UK.
“I’d like to thank our Trading Standards Team for their work in this case and I hope it sends a strong message to anyone else selling knock-off goods that it won’t be tolerated here in Tower Hamlets.”
For more information about electrical safety and the importance of purchasing legitimate electrical products from trusted sources, visit the London Fire Brigade’s website.
Find out more about the work of the Tower Hamlets Trading Standards service: www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/tradingstandards
Posted on Tuesday 11th February 2025