Chinese national slapped with heavy fines for bogus rum

Thirty-eight-year-old Chinese national, Shi Chang Li, was on Friday convicted for breaches of the Trademark and Excise Duty Act in the Falmouth Resident Magistrate’s Court.

Reports from the Trelawny Proactive Investigative Unit (PIU) were that on Thursday, December 17, 2015, at approximately 2pm, the police, with the assistance of specialists from J Wray and Nephew Limited, carried out a special operation at a supermarket in Water Square, Falmouth, Trelawny, that is owned and operated by Chang Li.

The shelves and storeroom of the supermarket were checked and a total of ninety one 250 ml and seventeen 750 ml bottles of illicit J Wray and Nephew overproof rum were found. Chang Li was then arrested and charged for Unlawful Use of Trademark, Misleading and Deceptive Conduct, and breaches against the Excise Duty Act.

In court, he was fined $400,000 or six months’ imprisonment for the Unlawful Use of Trademark charge, $300,000 or six months’ imprisonment for Misleading and Deceptive Conduct; and $50,000 or six months’ imprisonment for breaches of the Excise Duty Act.