Off licence fined for selling fake vodka and lighters,
Press Release Details
- Ref
- 3464
- Date
- Wed, 20 Aug 2008 09:31:10
Lar Rajhaven, who runs Cheers off licence in Penge Road, pleaded guilty at Croydon Magistrates on Tuesday and was fined £460 and ordered to pay £1,278.90 in costs.
The court heard how Mr Rajhaven, 41, was discovered offering for sale five suspect bottles of popular vodka brand Kirov and 39 fake clipper lighters when trading standards officers carried out an inspection of his off licence in October last year.
Councillor Steve O'Connell, cabinet member for safety and cohesion, said: "Unscrupulous traders who try to con local people into buying fake goods are bad news both for consumers and the many reputable companies in the borough.
"Both these products are potentially lethal for consumers. Fake vodka has been found to contain high levels of methanol, which is dangerous to health, and fake lighters are badly made and could explode causing serious burns to the user.
"The message is clear. We will not tolerate this type of trader in Croydon and we will prosecute anyone found selling counterfeit goods in the borough."
Anyone who is suspicious of goods they have been offered can have them checked by the council's trading standards service by phoning ConsumerDirect on 08454 040506 or emailing trading.standards@croydon.gov.uk.
