A car sales supervisor was sentenced to three and a half months' imprisonment by Fanling Magistrates' Courts today (March 25) after an earlier conviction of violating the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO).
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.
After investigation, Customs found that a car sales supervisor first arranged to change the odometer of a second-hand car so that the actual travelling mileage had been altered from over 90 000 kilometres to 62 599km, which is applying false trade descriptions to a second-hand vehicle.
The sales supervisor then resold the second-hand car to a consumer, which is supplying a second-hand vehicle with a false trade description.
Customs 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/Friday, March 25, 2022