3 more arrests in Flames’counterfeit jerseys’ probe
Malawi Police Fiscal and Fraud Unit yesterday arrested three more people in connection with a probe into Flames’ counterfeit jerseys.
The arrests come two weeks after police also detained M&D Fashion shop owner Ellah Littah in Limbe, who is answering charges under Counterfeit Trademarks contrary to Section 388 (D) (E) of the Penal Code.
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A police report states that those arrested in Lilongwe are Harriet Banda, 40, from Chinkhombe Village, Traditional Authority (T/A) Mwase in Kasungu, Jeremia Mona, 38, from Mwamufulama Village, T/A Kilipula in Karonga and Lusekelo Mwanjasi, 30, from Mwanjasi Village, T/A Kilipula also in Karonga.
Banda was found with 84 counterfeit jerseys while Mona was found with 28 fake jerseys. Mwanjasi, on the other hand, had 39 pieces of the counterfeit merchandise.
The three had the fake jeserys in their shops along Bwaila Street, previously known as Devil Street.
National Police deputy spokesperson Harry Namwaza in an interview yesterday confirmed the arrest of the suspects, saying they have also been charged under counterfeit trademarks.
FAM commercial and broadcasting manager Tulipo Mwenelupembe in an interview yesterday confirmed the development.
He said just like in the Limbe case, the association alerted the police about the suspects.
Mwenelupembe has urged football fans to buy the Flames merchandise from authorised dealers.
He said: “The only way to ensure that you buy a genuine Flames jersey and not these fake substandard ones is through the authorised shops.
“Original jerseys have a Moto authentic tag on the bottom of the jersey, a label on the inside indicating that they are manufactured in Vietnam while fake jerseys indicate China.
“The FAM logo and Moto logo are embroidered. The jerseys have a Malawi flag attached on the rear side collar of the jersey.”
FAM sells its merchandise through authorised shops. In Blantyre, the replicas are sold at Into Sports, Formula 1, Touch of Class, No Overpricing, Crystal Duty Free Shop and Pakhale Shop.
In Lilongwe, the outlets are Into Sports, Puma Shop City Mall and Phatafuli Investments while in Mzuzu, the authorised outlets are Kapida Investments and Zampira Sports Shop.
