A Southall jeweller has been ordered to pay more than £7,500 in fines and court costs after admitting to offering gold for sale without an official hallmark.
Mr Atif Waseem of Shamail Gold Limited trading as Waseem Jewellers, 130 The Broadway, Southall pleaded guilty to all 19 charges under the Hallmarking Act 1973 and one charge under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008, when he appeared at Uxbridge Magistrates Court this month (November).
Sixteen gold rings, one gold pendant, and two three-piece gold pendant sets were seized by Trading Standards during their inspection for failing to display the legally required hallmark.
Mr Waseem’s shop was selected as part of a Trading Standards investigation into the levels of legal compliance within the jewellery industry in Ealing. The gold seized was then submitted to the London Assay Office for examination and testing who confirmed that none of the items displayed the legally required hallmark, and one piece was in fact 18-carat, and not the 22-carat claimed.
The Hallmarking Act 1973 states that it is an offence for a trader to display for sale non-hallmarked gold or apply the description of gold, silver, platinum or palladium to an item if the description is not true.
Legal proceedings against Mr Waseem were halted due to COVID-19 but on 11 November he was in court and pleaded guilty to all 19 offences under the Hallmarking Act 1973 and one charge under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 for providing false information in relation to the carat content of an item of jewellery.
Mr Waseem was fined £3,500 for all charges and ordered to pay costs of £3,882 and a victim surcharge of £181 (total £7,563).
Councillor Bassam Mahfouz, portfolio holder for decent living incomes said: “This is a case where products advertised for sale were not as described, which could have misled customers into buying these items.
“Hallmarking gives customers confidence when buying items of jewellery and precious metals that the items they are receiving are genuine.
“Our Trading Standards team will continue to monitor, support and inspect businesses throughout the borough, ensuring a level playing field for consumers and businesses alike.
“Enforcement action may be taken against those that fail to comply with their legal obligations.”
