Found in possession of €8,550 worth of counterfeit footwear

Found in possession of €8,550 worth of counterfeit footwear

A FATHER-of-two was found in possession of more than €8,000 worth of counterfeit footwear when gardai searched a west Dublin business premises.

Asim Maqbool, aged 41, had used a computer to produce Adidas and Ugg labels, hundreds of which were also seized.

Centre Point 06 1

Gardai searched a premises at Centre Point Business Park

He was given a one-month suspended sentence when he pleaded guilty to charges under the Trademarks and Theft and Fraud Acts.

Judge Gerard Jones suspended the sentence for a year at Blanchardstown District Court.

Maqbool, with an address at Ballyowen Hall, Lucan, pleaded guilty to possession of clothing and labels bearing marks that were identical to or nearly resembled registered trademarks, at Centre Point Business Park, Clondalkin on December 7, 2017. He also pleaded guilty to unlawfully operating a computer.

Garda Sergeant Maria Callaghan told the court gardai went to Centrepoint Business Park, Clondalkin on December 7, 2017. They carried out a search with a warrant under the Trademarks Act at a premises occupied by the accused. The gardai recovered a large quantity of counterfeit clothing, mainly footwear, and Adidas and Ugg brand labels.

In total, there were 90 pairs of counterfeit Adidas footwear and 120 labels seized, representing a potential loss to the company of €8,550.

There were 94 pairs of counterfeit Ugg footwear and 793 labels but the potential loss had not been quantified by Ugg, Sgt Callaghan said.

The accused met the gardai later by appointment and made full admissions.

He said he had used a laptop to produce and print the trademark labels, was cooperative and gave a full account of why he did this.

A file was sent to the DPP, who consented to summary trial in the district court. Judge Jones accepted jurisdiction.

The accused was not legally represented in court but said he wished to plead without a lawyer.

Maqbool said he had health issues, his circumstances were quite bad at the time and he “made a mistake”.

He sold “market stuff” and needed “some cash flow to pay my bills”.

“Survival for me at the time was quite difficult,” he said.

Maqbool was an Irish national living here for the last 20 years.

Judge Jones asked if he had “stopped this carry on”.

“Totally,” the accused replied. “I’m a part time taxi driver now.”

Judge Jones said it was a serious matter to operate a computer with intent to make gain while falsifying labels. He said he would not send Maqbool to prison but suspended a one-month sentence for a year.

He said the accused could appeal the court’s order if he did not like it.

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