Ahoy: DVDs pirate busted

TOM BENNETT
A MAN who sold pirated DVDs at a computer swap market unwittingly assisted gangsters and criminals, according to a Geelong magistrate.
Maribyrnong’s Hao Li, 33, pleaded guilty in Geelong Magistrates Court to possessing bootleg movies and offering them for sale.
The court heard Li was operating a stall at Computer Market in Corio St, Geelong when police approached him on April 17.
The officers seized 659 DVDs including many recent releases and popular titles.
Magistrate Ann McGarvie said “gangsters made all the money” out of the pirated movie business.
“It’s organised crime that benefits the most from this sort of activity.
“In effect, you’re helping to earn money for criminals. People, like you (Li) are merely at the end of the chain.”
Li’s court submission said he acquired the DVDs from a man who owed him money but could not afford to pay.
“So he gave the movies to settle the debt.”
Li said he usually dealt in computer parts at various IT markets, not bootleg products.
Ms McGarvie said she accepted that Li was a first-time offender.
“I believe you’re unlikely to offend again,” she said.
Ms McGarvie issued a warning to anyone thinking of trying to sell bootleg products.
“Undercover police often attend markets like (the Geelong Computer Market) and are on the lookout for pirated goods. Chances are you will get caught if you deal in bogus product”.
Ms McGarvie found the charges proved before fining Hao Li $659 – “one dollar for each of the DVDs”.