A trader who supplied a Chester shop with fake branded mobile phone accessories was found guilty at Chester Crown Court of nine offences relating to fraudulent trading, money laundering and selling and offering for sale counterfeit goods.
Cheshire West and Chester Trading Standards brought the case against Friduddin Rana after establishing that his company Skyline Accessories was acting as a wholesale supplier to The Phone Doctor in The Forum Shopping Centre in 2012.
It triggered a complex investigation which revealed that Rana was importing counterfeit items from China - including Apple, Samsung and BlackBerry fake branded phone covers - and selling them from his Manchester shop and online.
Following a week-long trial, 43-year-old Rana was found guilty of seven counts under the Trade Marks Acts 1994 for selling and possessing counterfeit goods, and two counts relating to fraudulent trading and money laundering.
Rana, of Bury New Road, Prestwich, was arrested in July 2013 in a joint operation involving the council’s Trading Standards, North West Trading Standards Scambusters Team and Greater Manchester Police.
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Officers who raided his shop in Moulton Street, Manchester, seized a total of 10,702 counterfeit mobile phone accessories, the majority of which were covers.
Other items seized included front and back panels and other mobile phone parts bearing fake branding.
Cash totalling £117,000 and a further 9,500Euros were seized from the premises.
Maria Byrne, head of place operations for Cheshire West and Chester Council, said: “I am very pleased that our thorough investigations stopped the actions of this individual who was selling counterfeit goods to the public and supplying other businesses, including a Cheshire West trader.
“This is an example of how officers in our regulatory services team working jointly with the Regional North West Scambusters team are protecting the public as part of their day to day job.
“Not only is counterfeiting an illegal activity, it also takes away custom from legitimate, hardworking businesses.
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“I would ask Cheshire West residents to seriously think twice about supporting this kind of activity. Counterfeit goods may appear to be an attractive and cheap alternative but they are, by their very nature, inferior products and are often unsafe.”
The case will be heard for sentencing on Friday, September 4. A Proceeds of Crime confiscation hearing will take place later this year.
