The fiscal and fraud units of the Malawi Police Service (MPS) have arrested three suspects in connection with a Malawi National Football Team replica jerseys’ deal in Lilongwe.
The law enforcers suspect that the jerseys are ‘fake’.
The development comes just two weeks after MPS busted another alleged syndicate in Limbe, Blantyre.
MPS deputy spokesperson Harry Namwaza identified the three suspects as Harriet Banda, Jeremia Mona and Lusekelo Mwanjasi.
“They were arrested after we got a tip-off from Football Association of Malawi (Fam) on the influx of fake replica jerseys across the country. We confiscated 151 fake jerseys from the three suspects on Monday.
“A team of fiscal police investigators visited Devil Street (now Bwaila Street) and arrested the abov mentioned suspects. Harriet Banda was found with 84 counterfeit jerseys, Jeremia Mona was found with 28 fake jerseys and Lusekelo Mwanjasi [was found] with 39 fake jerseys,” Namwaza said.
Namwaza said investigations are underway to trace the source of the jerseys.
He added that the three would be charged under Counterfeit Trademarks Act.
According to a police report, Banda (HHP) comes from Chinkhombe Village, Traditional Authority (TA) Mwase, in Kasungu District whereas Mona is from Mwamufulama Village, TA Kilipula, Karonga District.
MPS records indicate that Mwanjasi comes from Mwanjasi Village, TA Kilipula, in Karonga District.
Two weeks ago, Police arrested Ellah Littah and confiscated 71 jerseys that are suspected to be fake.
Littah was later released on bail.
Fam Commercial and Broadcasting Manager Tulipo Mwenelupembe was optimistic that the arrests would reduce the influx of unauthorised jerseys.
“Going forward, we will make sure that we close all the entry points of fake jerseys,” he said.
Fam holds legal rights to the replica jerseys branded as ‘Moto’, which are officially registered as its intellectual property.
It also owns the brands of Flames and Scorchers, as brand names of the Malawi men’s and women’s national teams, respectively.
They are duly registered with the Registrar of Trademarks.
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