Businessman Guilty of Selling Fake Bleaching Creams, Fined $2.6M

St Catherine, Jamaica – The operator of a beauty supply store in Spanish Town, St Catherine, was fined $2.6 million today in the parish court for selling counterfeit bleaching products. Zhijia Zeng, a 40-year-old businessman, was convicted on four charges, including breaching the Trade Marks Act and misleading and deceptive conduct.

Zeng was fined $650,000 or six months imprisonment on each charge. The sentencing came after a trial in which the court heard how the businessman continued selling the counterfeit goods despite being aware of their illegality. Presiding judge Nicole Kellier emphasized the risks to consumer health caused by the fake products, noting that Zeng’s actions harmed customers.

However, mitigating factors, including Zeng’s clean record, his family responsibilities, and a favorable social enquiry report, led the court to reduce the original fines. Judge Kellier explained that the fines had been discounted, resulting in the final total of $2.6 million.

Zeng’s attorney, Shantel Jarrett, successfully requested a one-week extension to pay the fines. The charges stemmed from a police raid conducted by the Counter-Terrorism and Organized Crime Investigation Branch (C-TOC) on November 25, 2020. Officers seized 266 sachets and 831 tubes of counterfeit Neoprosone cream and lotion from Aleka Beauty Supplies on French Street. Following the raid and a further investigation, Zeng was arrested and charged.

After multiple court appearances, Zeng was found guilty and sentenced today.