A man who was convicted of an online scam
selling products that claimed to 'kill' the HIV virus has been sentenced
to 240 hours community service.
Admare Jinga used his base in Belfast to set up a company that advertised and distributed products overseas, particularly to his native Zimbabwe.
In June, he was found guilty of fraud by false representation.
He had already admitted a second charge of marketing medicines for human use without proper authorisation.
The 31-year-old University of Ulster graduate was sentenced at Belfast Magistrates Court on Tuesday.
False claims Jinga, who now lives in Hamilton, Lanarkshire, Scotland, will carry out his community service over the next 12 months.
During the trial, Belfast Magistrates Court had heard that Jinga established a company called Savec Healthcare Ltd in 2007, when he was living in south Belfast.
Up until 2009 it marketed products as alternative forms of treatment for the HIV infection.
They claimed to be able to kill, prevent or stop Aids, according to the prosecution.
In the witness box Jinga said he became involved with pharmacists, a microbiologist and other Zimbabwean professionals concerned with the impact of HIV in their country.
Jinga claimed that no complaints were ever received from people who used his products.
Water
The case against him was taken by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
In a statement issued after the sentencing, the MHRA said the case was its first ever prosecution of its kind.
The agency said it took action against Jinga after he was found to be selling a machine and accompanying medicine over the internet that he falsely claimed could cure HIV and Aids.
"There are no known cures for HIV so any claim to this effect is illegal," the MHRA statement added.
0 comments:
Post a Comment