Swedish firm withdraws raps vs local distributor

MANILA, Philippines – A Swedish toolmaking company has withdrawn its trademark infringement case against local distributor Herco Trading Inc. and fired its private investigator for falsifying evidence.

In a three-page affidavit of desistance filed before the Department of Justice, Kapman Aktibebolag representative Patricia See said the Swedish firm voluntarily desisted from pursuing the case.

In a statement, Kapman said it sacked its private investigator, Jairus Abiera, who got a search warrant from a Nueva Ecija court to raid a warehouse in Bulacan.

He presented alleged “seized” tools used as basis for the filing of charges against Herco, and “admitted” that a receipt he presented in court to show he bought the fake tools from a Herco warehouse “was really manufactured in the University Belt in Manila.”

Herco logistics manager Robert Capuchino has charged Abiera with falsification, use of falsified documents and perjury before the Manila prosecutor’s office.

The charges were filed after Abiera accused Herco of trademark infringement for the alleged unlawful distribution and sale of counterfeit hand hacksaw blades and claw hammers manufactured by Kapman.