Police seize fake Philips products

JAKARTA (JP): Police detectives have apprehended two men for illegally selling electrical appliances under the Philips brand name.

City police chief of detectives Col. Alex Bambang Riatmodjo said on Tuesday officers confiscated 2,450 faked Ecotone lightbulbs and 8,000 counterfeited irons from the suspects, identified as Edi Sutanto and Frans.

Among the items seized were equipment used to print packages and labels for the goods.

"I bought the bulbs from a salesman in Glodok shopping center, West Jakarta," said Edi, who was arrested in Tanjung Priok, North Jakarta.

He said he bought the bulbs for Rp 11,000 (US$1.50) each and sold them later for Rp 27,500 after they were labeled and packaged.

Frans was arrested on Jl. Cemara Raya in Cengkareng, West Jakarta, for forging the HI 114 electric irons of the Dutch company.

"I have run the business since July and sold the irons for Rp 90,000 each," Frans reportedly told the police. He said he bought the irons for Rp 18,000 each.

NV Philips Holland expressed its gratitude to the police for its success in clamping down on the illegal misrepresentation of its brand name, Alex said. (05)