On August 11, the Can Tho police investigation agency said it had issued decisions to prosecute a criminal case and two suspects, Huynh Phuong Duy, born in 1993 and living in Can Tho, and Huynh Thanh Duong, born in 1997 and living in Vinh Long Province, for alleged infringement of industrial property rights.
Two of the three suspects listen as police read out the prosecution decisions (Photo: Contributor)
Both suspects have been banned from leaving their places of residence while the investigation continues.
On June 5, authorities searched Thanh Duong Luxury, a shop owned by Duy, and seized 1,716 items, including sandals, hats, handbags and belts, suspected of bearing counterfeit versions of well-known brands including Louis Vuitton, Versace, Gucci, Hermes, Burberry and Dior.
In addition to finished products, authorities seized leather materials, tools, machinery and equipment believed to have been used to manufacture or process goods bearing counterfeit trademarks. The total value of the seized goods was estimated at more than VND 1.4 billion (USD 54,000).
Based on evidence collected during the investigation, police determined that the activities showed signs of infringing industrial property rights relating to trademarks protected in Vietnam.
The same day, Can Tho police also charged Huynh Thanh Hien, born in 2002 and living in Vinh Long Province, with industrial property rights infringement and banned him from leaving his place of residence.
The seized evidence (Photo: Contributor)
Police had previously searched Thanh Hien Luxury at 50 Nguyen Binh Street in Cai Khe Ward, Can Tho, a shop owned by Hien. They seized 2,949 items, including clothing, shoes, hats, belts, backpacks, handbags and wallets, suspected of bearing counterfeit versions of Burberry, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Dior and Hermes.
The total value of these goods was estimated at more than VND 1.9 billion (USD 73,000).
The Can Tho police investigation agency is continuing to investigate the case.