A Penang man was arrested for selling counterfeit branded clothes on TikTok. The raid was conducted by the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry yesterday (9th January) at a People’s Housing Project (PPR) flat in Air Itam, Penang.
According to the ministry’s Penang chief enforcement officer A. Mogan, the 27-year-old had utilised the flat as a storage space, paying a monthly rent of RM500 to store counterfeit clothing bearing registered trademarks of various well-known brands like FILA and Lacoste. The officer said the shirts filled the entire flat, from the floor to the ceiling.
During an interview with reporters, A. Mogan said the man received upwards of RM1,000 a day by selling the counterfeit items through live broadcasts on TikTok. Police began investigating the man after receiving a complaint from a representative of one of the trademark brands. According to investigations, the man sold the shirts for as low as RM8 for the upcoming Chinese New Year celebration.
The enforcement officer said that authorities have seized around 5,050 pieces of counterfeit clothing, estimated to be worth RM40,400 – but they have yet to finalise their counting as there were too many items. Based on preliminary investigations, the man obtained his stocks from suppliers in Kuala Lumpur. While the seller claimed to have been storing stock since 2020, he only began selling through TikTok last year.
The authorities detained the man to assist in further investigation under the Trade Marks Act 2019. They’re also welcoming more information and complaints from the public regarding any sales activities for counterfeit goods, including activities through social media.
Sources: New Straits Times, Harian Metro, Bernama
