COUNTERFEIT KING GETS HIS COMEUPPANCE

The conviction of Siraj Patel a 46 year old, father of four from Leyton East London has led to one of the UK’s largest local authority confiscation orders being imposed through his booming business selling fake counterfeit goods to unsuspecting customers.

Patel sold a large amount of reproductions of many top brand names such as Timberland and Burberry at a huge profit. The goods he would purchase cost a fraction of the price he would sell them on for in various retail outlets across London.  This led to Patel raking in a fortune from his fake goods at the expense of the unsuspecting residents of London.

Patel’s benefits from the proceeds of crime have enabled him to purchase two residential properties and a large commercial premises in East London.

Hackney Trading Standards Officers raided one of his shops based in Kingsland Road, East London where fake goods were recovered. London RART were called upon to deal with the financial investigation and worked alongside Hackney Trading Standards. Then, less than a year later, another swoop, this time by Tower Hamlets Trading Standards officials, at a further counterfeit haul found at another retail premises owned by Patel. After a complex investigation it was found that Patel’s benefit figure exceeded a colossal £1 million.

The mountain of evidence stacked against Patel meant the he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 18 months in prison and was hit with a confiscation order for £1,077,700. His Honour Judge Robbins also warned Patel that he will face adding a further seven years to his sentence if the order is not satisfied within 6 months.

Both Hackney Trading Standards and the London RART were delighted with this result and Councillor Alan Laing, a senior member of London Borough of Hackney was quoted as saying, ‘This is another good result for Hackney Council working to reduce crime and protect its residents’

DI Mark Hewitt, deputy head of the London RART commented that ‘This case highlights the innovation and dedication that has made the London RART the success it is today. By supporting our partners Hackney Trading Standards prosecution, the unit has shown that use of the confiscation process is a key tactic in making London a hostile place for those who would commit crime for financial gain’.