INVESTIGATORS & SECURITY CONSULTANTS

Carshalton Conman Hassan Salimi Ordered to Pay Back £100,000

Carshalton Conman Hassan Salimi Ordered to Pay Back £100,000

A Carshalton man found guilty of selling fake goods must pay back £100,000 or face jail.  Hassan Salimi was given one of the largest fines seen by Sutton Council’s trading standards team at a confiscation hearing at Croydon Crown Court on August 5.

He must pay an £80,000 confiscation order, £5,000 court costs, a £750 fine for each of the 20 trademark offences – a total of £15,000 and a £75 victim surcharge.  He had already been found guilty of 20 counts of selling counterfeit Benefit Cosmetics, tooth whitening products and “as seen on TV” products in June last year.

Mr Salimi has six months to pay the fine or serve an 18 month prison sentence.

All the fake products will now be destroyed.

His activities were first brought to the attention of Sutton trading standards in 2012 by the Post Office Investigations team.   They were investigating claims Mr Salimi was sending out multiple packages using a pre-paid business reference stamp belonging to Ann Summers.  Mr Salimi later accepted a caution under the Fraud Act 2006 for this matter.

The Home Office will receive half of the money, HM Revenue and Customs 12.5 per cent, Sutton Council 25 per cent and Surrey Accredited Financial Advisor 12.5 per cent.

A Sutton Council spokesman said: “This case sends out the clear message we will use everything in our powers to ensure crime does not pay, including the courts for asset recovery.  “Residents need to know that they will be protected from rogue traders who flout the law by selling sub-standard goods.”

Article courtesy of [email protected]