A local man was arrested yesterday for counterfeiting and illegally selling silicone sealant under a trademark registered by a local company to at least 14 local hardware stores, earning him an illegal income of 100,000 patacas in two years, Judiciary Police (PJ) spokesman Chan Wun Man said during a special press conference yesterday.
Silicone sealant is a weather-resistant sealant used in the building trade.
The 63-year-old suspect surnamed Kuok told the police that he owns a hardware store.
According to Chan, a local man reported to the Public Prosecutions Office (MP) recently that he owns a company which produces the silicone sealant that has a registered trademark. The man told the office that he discovered that a silicone sealant which bears the same trademark had been produced and sold to other hardware stores in various districts in Macau since last year. The office transferred the case to the Judiciary Police (PJ) for investigation.
PJ officers arrested Kuok at a hardware store in Rua da Tercena yesterday. They searched the suspect’s shop and 14 other hardware stores suspected of selling the silicone sealant with the counterfeit trademark. A total of 470 boxes (24 tubes per box) of silicone sealant with the fake trademark were seized during the operation.
Upon questioning, Kuok admitted to committing the crime and claimed that because the silicone sealant is widely used in the local construction industry, he had asked mainland factories to imitate the trademark and produce counterfeit silicone sealant. Kuok also admitted that he earnt an illegal income of nearly 100,000 patacas from the fake trademark scheme.
According to Chan, the Judiciary Police are continuing their investigation.
Kuok was transferred to the Public Prosecutions Office (MP) yesterday, facing charges of counterfeiting, imitation, and illegal use of a trademark.
A PJ officer shows a genuine silicone sealant (left) and a counterfeit one at the scene yesterday.
The hooded suspect is escorted by Judiciary Police (PJ) officers from his hardware store to a vehicle yesterday. Photos: Iong Tat Choi
