The Justice Department yesterday charged before the Manila Regional Trial Court a businessman for allegedly selling fake Lacoste products at the Tutuban Center in Divisoria.

Sued for violating the Intellectual Property Code was Nelson Tia, owner of Nemesis Fashion Boutique at the Cluster Building.

The case arose from a complaint by Castillo Laman Tan Pantaleon & San Jose Law Offices, a firm engaged by La Chemise Lacoste S.A. to look into trademark infringements on its behalf.

Investigation showed that in September 1999, market reseachers hired by the law firm discovered that Tia’s boutique was selling bogus Lacoste items.

RTC Branch 1 Judge Rebecca Salvador issued a search warrant which a National Bureau of Investigation team used in seizing eight sacks of imitation Lacoste shirts. Michael Caber