Thousands of false 'Lea' jeans confiscated
Thousands of false 'Lea' jeans confiscated
JAKARTA (JP): Police personnel raided on Wednesday a warehouse
manufacturing imitation Lea jeans in the small-scale industrial
complex (PIK) on Jl. Penggilingan, East Jakarta, an officer said
on Thursday.
East Jakarta Police chief of detectives Sr. Insp. Agus Irianto
said the officers seized thousands of replica jeans from the
warehouse, owned by the suspect, Muskamal, alias Buyung.
Few weeks ago, police also managed to seize thousands of
similar fake Lea jeans from a warehouse in West Jakarta.
The Wednesday raid was spurred after police received a report
several weeks ago from PT Lea Sanent in West Jakarta, the
licensed manufacturer of the jeans, that many unauthentic
versions of the jeans were sold at Tanah Abang regional market in
Central Jakarta.
"Police detectives learned that the fake jeans had come from a
warehouse located in the small-scale industrial complex in East
Jakarta," Agus said.
After collecting enough evidence, the officers raided the
warehouse at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, he said.
"From the suspect, the police confiscated thousands of pairs
of jeans and other raw materials, including half-made jeans, 25
sewing machines, some label-making machines and thousands of
false carton labels," he said.
Agus said the 42-year-old suspect falsified the jeans by
sewing fake Lea labels inside and outside the pants.
As shown at the police station, the false labels are similar
to the original ones.
"However, a fake pair does not have a serial number on the
aluminum zipper tabs. Also, if consumers check the jeans, the
material is of poor quality," Agus said, adding that the suspect,
a resident of Rawa Lumbu in Bekasi, obtained the denim from Tanah
Abang market.
He said the suspect began producing the fake jeans in August,
with the help of 15 employees.
"The jeans sold for Rp 30,000 (US$3) each. That is far cheaper
than the original price, which is between Rp 117,000 and Rp
200,000 a pair," he said.
The officer said the suspect sold the pants to several garment
stalls at Tanah Abang market as well as street vendors at the
market.
He said the suspect would be charged with Article 84 of the
Criminal Code for manufacturing the jeans without the knowledge
or consent of the owner of the Lea brand.
The Article carries a maximum sentence of seven years in jail
and a fine of Rp 100 million. (asa)