‘Buying fake goods should be criminal offence’: top Dubai cop

A top Dubai Police officer has said he supports making it illegal to purchase fake goods such as handbags, watches and pharmaceuticals, in a move that could force areas such as Karama to shutdown.

Head of quality control at Dubai Police, Major General Abdul Quddus Abdul Razak Obaidli, told Arabian Business customers who know they are buying counterfeit products should be fined similarly to those selling the goods. “It’s illegal to have the goods in your premises in order to sell it, but when you’re buying [the fake goods] it’s legal,” Obaidli said. “And if you ask me for my personal opinion, why not [fine the customer too]? If they are buying a good and they know this is a counterfeit product, why not [punish them] similar to copyright law?

http://www.arabianbusiness.com/-buying-fake-goods-should-be-criminal-offence-top-dubai-cop-531088.html#.UrAVS9IW0Z0