Greystone Trading represented by Himesh Parbhoo (41), was convicted and fined by the Gqeberha Court on Tuesday for contraventions of the Counterfeit goods and Trademark Acts, in relation to sale of fake Volkswagen vehicle accessories.
The Hawks Serious Commercial Investigation uncovered that Greystone was selling VW accessories in the premises of Autosport along Govan Mbeki Avenue, North End, Gqeberha between December 2021 and February 2022.
Spoor and Fisher Attorneys whose mandate includes acting on trade mark and counterfeit related cases acted on behalf of VW when these allegations came to light.
This was brought to the Eastern Cape Hawks’ for a probe. Consequently, on 6 December 2021, an evidence gathering transaction was performed where four Volkswagen alloy wheels were purchased.
The purchased goods were analysed and found to be counterfeits. This resulted in a search and seizure operation on 17 February 2022.
Wheels, centre cap hubs, over eighty VW badges and stickers all bearing VW badges were confiscated. The value of the seized items was estimated at just under R90 000, which the German, Wolfsburg based company was prejudiced of.
As a result of the Investigation, Himesh Parbhoo was served with Court summons on 10 March 2022, to face over three hundred and sixty counts, his first court appearance was on 13 April 2022.
Following a plea bargain Parbhoo was ordered to pay a R 17 000 fine, which he paid on Tuesday, 19 April.
Furthermore his company, Greystone Trading has been reported to the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) for further sanctioning and also faces the prospects of a civil suit from VW.
