Goods failed to meet safety standards

A Southall wholesaler who sold phone chargers that could have exploded is facing fines of almost £15,000.

The chargers failed to meet British electrical safety standards and had the potential to overheat or explode. There were also counterfeit Apple iPhone items including front screens, back plates and covers.

Banoch Kumar, director of Mr Phone Limited which is based in Southall Enterprise Centre on Bridge Road, pleaded guilty on behalf of the company at Ealing Magistrates Court on Thursday, 6 June 2013 to nine charges of having for sale unsafe electrical phone chargers and 11 charges of having for sale counterfeit phone and electronic accessories. Designer fakes found at the business included items with Apple, Microsoft, Sony, Chanel, Beats by Dr Dre and Louis Vuitton logos.

Ealing Magistrates Court ordered the company to pay £7,040 in fines for stocking fake goods and £3,465 for breaching electrical safety laws. He will also have to pay Ealing Council’s legal costs of £4,405.93 and a victim surcharge of £20, bringing the total penalty to £14,930.93.

Officers from Ealing Council launched the investigation after being contacted by colleagues from Suffolk County Council who had discovered a container full of unsafe mobile chargers imported from China by Mr Phone Limited at the port of Felixstowe in November 2011. Brent and Harrow trading standards colleagues also alerted Ealing to concerns about the company.

A large amount of counterfeit items discovered by Ealing trading standards officers on an inspection of the business in April 2012, were found in a concealed room. All items will now be destroyed.

Ealing Council leader, Julian Bell said: “This is an excellent result and a great example of how we work with colleagues from councils across the country to ensure consumers are protected from dangerous goods or being ripped off.

“Unsafe electrical items can overheat, cause fires or give electric shocks. I therefore hope the size of the penalty serves as a warning to any trader thinking of putting profit before their customers’ safety.”

13th June 2013