The Lusaka Magistrate Court has sentenced a Chinese national to nine months imprisonment with hard labour for selling fake national team replica jerseys.

Magistrate Greenwell Malumani sentenced Huang Bing of house number 7269 Makeni in Lusaka after having found him guilty of selling goods bearing a false trademark.

Police nabbed Huang on January 20, 2018 for selling 24 pieces of replicas bearing a false trademark valued at K3, 600.

When the matter came up yesterday, Huang, who pleaded guilty to the offence, asked the court to exercise leniency as he was a married and a taxpayer through the business he was conducting.

He said his business also employed Zambians.

But in sentencing Huang, the magistrate said that the offence committed was very serious and amounted to theft.

Magistrate Malumani further urged the State to take note of the immigration and deportation act and deport Huang back to China.

“It is my view that the offence of the sale of jerseys bearing false trademark is equivalent to theft. The trademark is patented and is a work of creativity so people can learn to be creative when their works are protected,” said magistrate Malumani.

“This is one case that should send a clear message especially for a foreign nationals who come to do business in Zambia.”

Huang was charged for sale of goods bearing false description in accordance with CAP 405 of the Merchandise Marks Act.

The Football Association of Zambia is set to offload on the market the replicas for the new KoPa jersey.
KoPa is FAZ’s own brand that was unveiled at the just ended African Nations Championship (CHAN). FAZ Media.