Sparks fly in HP counterfeits case

Mpho Mokwape | Wednesday September 9, 2015 16:25

 

Ishmael Sechele was testifying in a High Court case in which Hewlett Packard (HP) alleges that local firm, Longhurst Holdings, improperly sold products branded with the HP logo. Longhurst Holdings has been at the centre of investigations by HP South Africa and the Criminal Investigations Department since 2013 for allegedly selling HP products including ink cartridges and toners at cheap prices, raising suspicions that the products may be counterfeit.

Yesterday, Longhurst attorney, Gabriel Kanjabanga disputed HP South Africa’s allegations and branded Sechele a ‘paid witness’ whom he said had used false names when purchasing the goods. “How is the court to trust him when he even lied about his name when purchasing the goods?  He is here to give evidence against my client because he and HP have hatched a conspiracy to lie before the court,” he said.

Kanjabanga also said Sechele was not an expert in counterfeit goods as he was trained in a different field. “Therefore he has no idea how to distinguish the two except what he has been told by HP,” he said. In cross-examination, Sechele said HP engaged and paid him to buy two toners from Longhurst and give them to the investigating team.

He explained that he was no expert in counterfeit goods and that he did not have any idea whether or not the toners he purchased were counterfeits, as he did not open them.

“Whether the toners were genuine or not, that one I am not sure, because I gave them to the investigating team in sealed boxes,” he said. Sechele said he had purchased the toners and gave them to the investigating team in the presence of police and “that’s where my job ended”.  The two toners are in court as part of evidence. The case continues today with HP attorney, Reinard Michau leading evidence and a second witness in the stand.