A Magistrates’ Court has fined three men after they were found guilty of putting up for sale a number of counterfeit items that could have been mistaken for original merchandise.

Two of the men were fined Lm2,000, while the third was fined Lm1,500 after they were found guilty of putting a number of counterfeit items on sale in Gozo on 25 July 2002.

Mario Azzopardi was charged with trying to sell caps that carried Adidas, Nike, Ferrari, West, BMW-Williams and Lacoste logos.

He was further charged with trying to sell weapons, including flick knives, without the necessary licence.

Lawrence Cassar, another vender at the flea market in Victoria, was fined Lm1,500 after he was found guilty of putting 40 counterfeit Lacoste caps on sale.

The third person to be fined for trying to sell counterfeit items was Francis Vella, the owner of a shop in Victoria.

He was fined Lm2,000 after he was found guilty of putting a number of counterfeit items of clothing, watches and caps on sale.

Magistrate Giovanni Grixti presided over the court.

Police Superintendent Alexandra Mamo prosecuted.