Limpopo shop owners sentenced for selling fake sneakers
The Hawks arrested the men during a raid on foreign-owned shops last Friday.
LIMPOPO – The Musina Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, 25 May convicted and sentenced four men caught dealing in counterfeit goods.
The suspects, Abdul Umer, Sultan Girbo, Abrahim Asan and Abdul Karim were arrested during a multi-disciplinary operation between the Hawks, Polokwane Tactical Response Team (TRT), police in Musina and customs officials from Beit Bridge border post.
The operation was conducted in Musina on Friday, 21 May after members of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation members received a tip-off about four foreign-owned shops that were selling the counterfeit good.
Read more: Limpopo Hawks confiscate fake sneakers during raid on foreign-owned shops
An assortment of counterfeit sneakers bearing different brands to the value of over R250 000 were seized during the operation.
According to Hawks Spokesperson, Capt Matimba Maluleke the accused first appeared in court on Monday, 24 May. All four men entered into a plea agreement with the state and their case was postponed to 25 May for sentencing, he explained.
“Umer and Girbo were each fined R10 000 or 10 months imprisonment, while Asan was fined R24 000 or two years imprisonment. The fourth accused, Karim was fined R5 000 or five months imprisonment. Half of these sentences are suspended for five years.”
All seized counterfeit goods were forfeited to the state, he concluded.
