Courts / Dublin / Report

Suspended sentences for brothers over counterfeit clothing operation

Summary

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court sentenced brothers Erol and Ali Basak for their involvement in a counterfeit clothing operation based in Tallaght, south Dublin. Erol Basak, 43, of Lucan, pleaded not guilty to twelve counts of fraudulent possession of goods bearing trade marks and eleven counts of fraudulent application of trade marks. A jury unanimously convicted him of all charges, which were committed in November 2012. Ali Basak, of Edenderry, Co Offaly, pleaded guilty to similar offences contrary to section 92 of the Trade Marks Act, 1996. Judge Mary Ellen Ring suspended a sentence of two and a half years imprisonment for both men, conditional on each paying €5,000 by December 2017. The judge specified that €2,000 of this sum should cover State expenses for trademark witnesses. She noted both men had unblemished records and were unlikely to re-offend. The court heard the operation could have caused an estimated €3 million loss to multinational companies if all seized unused labels had been used. Judge Ring directed that seized counterfeit clothing be donated to charities such as Focus Ireland rather than destroyed, noting the items were useful. The prosecution estimated finished items would have caused a €65,000 loss. The men, both Turkish nationals, had previously operated a legitimate clothing importation business before moving to the container premises.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Suspended sentences for brothers over counterfeit clothing operation. Charges or matters: twelve counts of fraudulent possession of goods bearing trade marks and eleven counts of fraudulent application of trade marks; similar offences, which are contrary to section 92 of the Trade Marks Act, 1996. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• November 2012 Incident
• December 2017 Hearing Or Sentence
• 2001 to 2003 Other
• 2015-07-01 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

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Stage Sentence

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Read the original CNI report