Hong Kong Customs has arrested a third person in its investigation into suspected breaches of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance by beauty retailer OPATRA London. The suspect is a 22-year-old local woman described as a frontline sales worker or beauty consultant at the retailer’s Sha Tin branch.
The arrest on 2 September brings the total number of people arrested in the investigation to three. Star Headline reported that the other two were a 42-year-old male finance manager and a 25-year-old female administrative manager of the company, who had been arrested earlier over suspected breaches of the ordinance.
Customs has received 38 complaints related to the case, involving sums ranging from HK$1,800 to more than HK$200,000. The total amount involved is about HK$3 million, according to i-CABLE News.
i-CABLE News reported that the latest suspect allegedly applied an unfair commercial practice to induce a consumer to make a purchase they otherwise would not have made. The allegations have not been ruled on by a court.
Customs said the investigation is continuing and that it will examine all connected companies. Further arrests have not been ruled out.