By Ali Abdi
Three Chinese nationals have been jailed for three years each or pay a total of Sh6 million fine for selling counterfeit goods in Isiolo town.
Li Meiying, Chen Haizong and Chen Haiying were found hawking assorted cell phones and its accessories worth about Sh 2.2 million on July 27 this year in Isiolo town.
The court ordered the Li to pay a fine of Sh2.7 million, Chen Sh2.2 million and Haiying Sh1.6 million respectively or a jail term of 3 years each.
Minutes after the judgement was read by Senior Principal Magistrate Cosmas Maundu, one of the accused fainted after learning that he will spend years in jail unless he pays millions of shillings in fine.
The prosecution led by Chief Inspector Stephen Murega told the court that the three were arrested with help of the public after they had sold fake phones to four customers.
He said the Chinese had sold the four Kenyans Nokia N9 series phone each worth Sh9, 000. The customers discovered that the gadgets faulty and went on a mission to look for the sellers.
They found the three Chinese were found at a local petrol station hawking phones and its accessories where the complainants confronted them demanding for refund of their money.
The Chinese dismissed them and a shouting match ensued attracting the public who helped in arresting them.
Police were called and they arrested the three who were detained at Isiolo police station.
At the time of arrest, the accused were found with bags containing goods worth over Sh2 million.
The prosecution said the items sold to the locals along with those found in possession of the accused were all found to be counterfeit by both the regional body of Nokia and Samsung manufacturers.
During the hearing, the unrepresented foreigners entered a plea of guilt and pleaded for mercy from the court.
Maundu said despite their mitigation, the court had no option but to give a deterrent sentence.
