The Daily Tribune  21st May 2006

'168 Mall' raided anew for selling counterfeit goods

While apparently recovering from the recent raids conducted by Customs agents several
months back for allegedly selling smuggled items, the "168 Mall" in Manila was raided
again, but this time for selling goods.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said it raided over the weekend at least two stalls
at the mall, known for their "very" low prices, for selling counterfeit "Kipling" bags worth P2.6
million.

Raided were the sales outlet and stockroom of Love Face General Merchandise and Tophrecia
General Merchandise owned by Jocelyn Gou, Ivy Velasquez and Christopher Palencia.

The NBI said the retail oulet was located at Stall 1F-12 on the ground floor while the stockroom
was located at Unit WH-89 on the third floor of the mall.

Found and seized from the two establishments were 1,338 counterfeit Kipling bags. Gou, Velasquez
and Palencia now face charges of trademark infringement.

Operatives of the NBI placed the establishments under surveillance and conducted test buys to
confirm the evidence gathered through market research firm Orion Support Inc. (OSI).

After simultaneously conducting investigative activities, the NBI confirmed the sale of the items
and obtained the corresponding search warrants from Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 24
Judge Antonio Eugenio Jr.

The NBI conducted the raids after Quisumbing Torres Law Offices lodged complaints indicating
the two firms were distributing and selling counterfeit bags bearing the "Kipling" trademarks.

Jun P. Yap

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