DSI confiscates pirated goods worth over 10 million baht

BANGKOK, September 11 (TNA) -- Department of Special Investigation (DSI) announced of the confiscation of more than 13,000 pirated car accessories worth well over 10 million baht, in Bangkok's peripheral Nonthaburi province. DSI Director General Ms Suwana Suwanjata, together with DSI Deputy Director General Pol Col Paisit Wongmuang jointly told a press conference on the raid at a major car accessory factory, warehouse, and shop in Nonthaburi province. The press briefing came after officials from the Intellectual Property Office under the DSI searched the property of AO Safety company with a court warrant, which is a large car accessory production factory, located in Pak Kret district of Nonthaburi province. Authorities were able to seize 13,098 items, worth around 10 million baht, which violated intellectual property rights of famous car accessory brands used to accesorise vehicles from Ford, Toyata and Honda makers. Authorities also arrested Chuchai Sutthisaengtham who claimed to be an owner of the pirated goods, during the raid. The DSI director general said pirated items have caused a lot of damages to the country, prompting Thailand to be constantly monitored by the world community for the handling, preventing, and solving the problem of intellectual right violations. She noted that the recently searched factory has been in operations for the past decade, while inspections have revealed that the products manufactured from this factory are poor quality and under standard. However, because it is a large factory, most customers believe it to be legitimate, trusting that products made from the factory are genuine and are of high quality. The DSI would now charge the owner with violations of intellectual property rights before sending him for prosecution in line with the legal process. (TNA)