By Dorcas Ting
KUCHING, March 14: A company selling smartphone devices has been fined RM32,000 by the Sessions Court here today for selling counterfeit smartphone accessories and electronic hardware using the ‘Apple’ brand.
Aiman Abdul Hamid, 26, the owner of the company, pleaded guilty before Judge Iris Awen Jon after being charged under Section 102 (1)(b) of the Trademarks Act 2019 and was sentenced under Subsection 102(1)(ii) of the same Act.
He was accused of committing the offense at his company premises at Metrocity Commercial Precinct, Jalan Matang here on July 5, 2023, at around 10.45am.
The facts of the case revealed that on that same day, a team of enforcement officers from the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Kuching, along with representatives from the ‘Apple’ brand, conducted an inspection of the premises reported to be involved in selling goods using that brand.
The inspection revealed the presence of smartphone accessories and electronic hardware bearing the registered trademark (Apple) that were improperly labeled and displayed for sale on the premises.
Among them were 117 units of earphones, 16 units of USB-C charger adapters, 29 units of USB charger adapters, 25 units of charging cables, and 12 units of batteries.
As a result, the enforcement officers seized all of the items.
The examination of the seized items was conducted by duly appointed representatives of the Apple trademark, and the examination report confirmed that all seized items were counterfeit.
Consequently, Aiman as the owner of the company was found guilty of selling or offering or exposing for sale goods bearing the ‘Apple’ trademark that were improperly labeled.
The prosecution was conducted by Deputy Public Prosecutor Nor Azhari Yusof, while Aiman was not represented by a lawyer. — DayakDaily
