A Singapore court on Aug. 16 sentenced a counterfeiter to 19 months in prison for selling fake Swiss Army watches, announced Swiss Army brands (SABI), Shelton, Conn.

The conviction capped a 10-month collaboration between authorities and SABI’s distributor in Singapore to crack down on street peddling of counterfeit watches. SABI worked with local law enforcement to orchestrate and subsidize a raid, during which 1,500 counterfeit Swiss Army watches, with a street value of $22,500, were seized.

SABI has an ongoing worldwide program to fight unauthorized use or reproduction of its brands and trademarks. “We are determined to show our intolerance for this illegal practice,” said Sue Rechner, SABI president. Earlier this year, it helped seize 35,000 fake Swiss Army watches brought into the United States. In addition, SABI has a training program that educates law enforcement officials in identifying fake Swiss Army products.

Swiss Army Brands, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Victorinox, A.G., is the exclusive U.S., Canadian and Caribbean marketer of Swiss Army Watches, Victorinox Original Swiss Army Knives, multi-tools, SwissCards, and cutlery. It also markets Victorinox Apparel and operates a flagship store in New York City.

JCK