A kretek cigarette importing company and its director were fined a total of RM2.08 million by the Shah Alam sessions court after being found guilty of using a registered trademark without approval for 520,000 boxes of “John” brand cigarettes five years ago.
Judge Rasyihah Ghazali said the defence had failed to raise reasonable doubt against the prosecution of Roslan Abu Bakar, 61, and Ramunas Sdn Bhd at the close of the defence’s case.
“The prosecution has proven the case beyond a reasonable doubt. Ramunas and Roslan have been convicted as charged.
“The court sentences Ramunas to a fine of RM1.56 million and Roslan to a fine of RM520,000, with 12 months’ imprisonment in default of payment. The total fine amounts to RM2.08 million,” Bernama reported her as saying.
A total of 13 prosecution witnesses and four defence witnesses, including Roslan, testified during the trial which began in 2021.
The court also ordered all 520,000 boxes of cigarettes to be forfeited to the government for disposal in line with Section 127 of the Trademarks Act 2019.
Roslan was accused, as director of Ramunas, of having in his control, for the purpose of trade, 520,000 boxes of “John” brand cigarettes bearing a registered trademark applied falsely under Section 100 of the Trademarks Act 2019.
The offence was committed at a warehouse in Port Klang, Selangor, at 11.10am on Oct 21, 2020.
Ramunas was also charged with having in its control for the purpose of trade the same goods at the same place, time and date under Section 102(1)(c) of the Trademarks Act 2019, punishable under Section 102(1)(i) of the same Act.
Deputy public prosecutors Shafiq Mahadi and Hakiim Izani appeared for the prosecution while lawyer R Janeni Devi represented Roslan and the company.
