A car seller was convicted today (September 16) at Tuen Mun Magistrates' Courts for supplying a second-hand vehicle with a false trade description in contravention of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO). He was sentenced to 12 weeks' imprisonment.
Hong Kong Customs earlier received information alleging that a car dealer supplied a second-hand car suspected of bearing a false odometer reading (travelling mileage) to a consumer.
An investigation revealed that the car seller sold the second-hand car bearing a travelling mileage of 60 787 kilometres to the car dealer.
The car dealer then sold the car to a consumer, who found the odometer reading suspicious. A report was subsequently made to the Customs.
A Customs investigation confirmed that the vehicle's actual travelling mileage exceeded 250 000km when it was sold to the car dealer.
Customs welcomes the conviction. It also reminds traders to comply with the requirements of the TDO and consumers to procure products at reputable shops.
Under the TDO, any person who supplies goods with a false trade description in the course of trade or business, or is in possession of any goods for sale with a false trade description, commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.
Members of the public may report any suspected violations of the TDO to Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).
Ends/Monday, September 16, 2019