Accra, Feb.11 GNA - Two Chinese nationals arrested for possession and sale of fake Close-up tooth paste appeared before an Accra Circuit court on Tuesday.

Tang Wei, a businessman was charged for possessing goods marked with counterfeited trade mark of Unilever while Chen Shuping, a saleswoman was also charged for selling counterfeit goods contrary to section 26(2) of the Trade Act 664.

They pleaded not guilty to the charges and were admitted to bail in the sum Ghc 20,000 cedis with one surety each. Earlier, the prosecution in the case had substituted the previous charges against Tang Wei which was selling of counterfeit goods with a new charge of possession of counterfeit goods. District Superintendent of Police (DSP), P.K. Frimpong, prosecuting, said the complainant Prince Asante Obeng is the Marketing Manager of Unilever Ghana Limited.

He said the first accused, Tang Wei is a businessman dealing in ceramics, kitchen wares and home appliances with the business name W.B. IMPEX Limited whilst the second accused Chan Shuping alias Lucy is a sales woman at First Person's Store at Cow Lane. He said Unilever is the registered trade mark owner of the Close-up tooth paste product globally.

He said in November last year, Unilever Ghana Limited was alerted about some green coloured Close-up tooth paste products on the market. He said the company therefore, contacted the Industry and Market Support System for a research to determine the source of the product. DSP Frimpong said on December 11, 2006, the accused sold to a witness in the case, six pieces of the product. On December 12, 2006 Chan Shuping collected a cash sum of two million old Ghana cedis from a witness as a deposit to sell him cartons of the product and issued to him VAT Service Invoice Receipt No.17735279. They were subsequently arrested.

He said four cartoons of the green Close-Up tooth paste were retrieved from the first accused person's warehouse at Mallam. DSP Frimpong said samples of the Close-Up tooth paste which were sent to the Ghana Standards Board for analytical examination showed that the products were fake.