Durban — Prison, or pay a fine. Those were the options given to a man recently sentenced for contravening the Counterfeit Goods Act.
Earlier this week, the Durban Regional Court convicted and sentenced Shana Mangroo, 55, for contravention of the Counterfeit Goods Act.
In October 2021, Customs officials detained a container with 949 master cases of Pacific Blue cigarettes.
The Customs investigation found the cigarettes were counterfeit. It was further established that Mangroo unlawfully imported illicit cigarettes for business purposes and made a false declaration to the Customs controller.
Mangroo was charged with contravention of the Counterfeits Goods Act and contravention of the Customs Excise Act.
KwaZulu-Natal Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Simphiwe Mhlongo said Mangroo appeared in court several times until he was found guilty and sentenced on Monday.
“Mangroo was sentenced to pay a fine of R200 000 or 30 days’ imprisonment which is suspended for 5 years on condition that he is not convicted of a similar offence during the period of suspension.
He was further fined R500 or 20 days’ imprisonment which is also suspended for 5 years on condition that he is not convicted of a similar offence during the period of suspension,” Mhlongo said.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, a 31-year-old suspect is expected to appear in court for contravention of the Counterfeit Goods Act.
The suspect was served a summons on August 29 by Hawks officers from the Durban Serious Commercial Crime Investigation unit to appear in court for contravention of the Counterfeit Goods Act.
In early August, Hawks officers received information about a liquor store selling counterfeit goods in Bluff, Durban.
An investigation was conducted. As a result, a case of contravention of the Counterfeit Goods Act was registered at Brighton Beach police station for further investigation.
Hawks KZN spokesperson Warrant Officer Sibu Ncane said: “A search warrant was executed at the liquor store. The counterfeit Smirnoff 1818 Vodka valued at R9 300 was seized by police for further police investigation.
“On Thursday, August 29, a suspect was served with a summons to appear in the Durban Magistrate’s Court on September 10.”
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