LUSAKA, 30^TH OCTOBER, 2017 –ON 25^th October, 2017, the Zambia Police Intellectual Property Unit had an operation in which they seized counterfeit Bata Shoes from MENGULAI COMPANY LIMITED in Kamwala and Makeni Konga areas in Lusaka, the company owned by a Chinese National TANG WEIHUA aged 42.

This was after Police received a complaint from Zambia Bata Shoes Company Limited who are the rightful holder of the Bata Brand which is legally registered.

The Unit seized 2,768 pairs of suspected counterfeit shoes valued at K68, 800.

The suspect has been charged and arrested for the following offence:

1. 1.Make, import or have in possession any coverings, labels, reels or any reproduction, replicas or representations of a trade Mark or a mark so nearly resembling a trade mark as to be likely to DECEIVE for the purpose of applying them to goods contrary to section 5 (1) (g) of the Merchandise Mark Act Cap 405 of the Laws of Zambia.

1. 2.Sale of goods to which any trademark or a mark so resembling a trade Mark as to be likely to DECEIVE is falsely applied which is contrary to section 6(1) (b) of the Merchandise Marks Act Cap 405 of the Laws of Zambia.

The accused person is on Police Bond and will appear in court tomorrow.

We wish to take this opportunity to remind members of the public to always be alert when purchasing products such as the Bata shoes and are therefore urged to always buy genuine products from legitimate outlets.

We are also warning the traders who are fond of deceiving the public by selling counterfeit products that they should desist forthwith from such vices before they are caught up by the Law.

ESTHER MWAATA KATONGO

ZAMBIA POLICE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER

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