Companies

Italians arrested for selling fake Caterpillar equipment

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Italians Criscuolo Guispe, Criscuolo Afredo and Loffredo Antonio at a court in Nairobi yesterday. PHOTO | PAUL WAWERU | NMG

Three Italian nationals were Monday charged in court with forgery and fraud after they were arrested selling alleged counterfeit items belonging to US-based Caterpillar which deals in machinery, engines as well as financial products.

Loffredo Antonio, Criscuolo Alfredo and Criscuolo Guisepe appeared before chief magistrate Francis Andayi and pleaded not guilty to six offences.

They were charged with making a document without authority, uttering a document with intent to defraud, being in possession of counterfeit goods, selling counterfeit products and counterfeiting Caterpillar Inc trademarks. The court was told that the said offences were committed on various dates between June 22 and July 6.

The prosecution accused the trio of making a business catalogue booklet in the name of Caterpillar SARL Company while purporting it to be a genuine one with an intent to defraud unsuspecting members of the public.

The court will today rule on their bond application pending trial that kicks off on August 10.

The court heard that Mr Antonio forged a Caterpillar Milton invoice and presented it to Mr Abdulaziz Gachau on June 22 on Enterprise road in Nairobi’s Industrial Area.

The court further heard that Mr Antonio attempted to sell two counterfeit generators to Mr Gachau on the said date.

Mr Giuseppe, court was told, was found in possession with two Caterpillar branded diesel generators worth Sh 260,000 at Ongata Rongai’s Maasai Mall.

He also intended to sell the generators at the time of their arrest on July 6 at a rented apartment while preparing to go to JKIA to fly out of the country.

An investigation officer disclosed that they were found with four packed bags filled with their belongings and accused them of lying to unsuspecting potential clients that they were employees of the said company.

According to the investigation officer, the trio usually makes their clients believe that the products for sale are part of the items remaining from an exhibition held at the KICC.

Court also heard that they tell clients that they have been instructed by the company to sale them cheaply because flying them back to their country would be more costly.

“On diverse dates at unknown place, the accused jointly applied a counterfeited Caterpillar (CAT) trademark to generator sets all not being the merchandise of Caterpillar SARL,” prosecution told court.

Prosecution objected to a request by the defense to have the trio freed on bond pending their trial while claiming that they were a flight risk and would likely abscond appearing in court once released.

“They are not Kenyans, their motive for coming into the country is unknown. They also do not have a permanent abode and were arrested,” prosecution added.

However their lawyer claimed that the foreigners were ready to abide by any terms to be set by the court if they are to be released on bond.

Magistrate Andayi will today rule on whether to have them freed on bond pending their trial which will kick off on August 10 or have them remanded at Industrial Area where they are being detained.