An investigation into how four Lesotho women were kept hostage for five months by a Chinese couple has led to the discovery of hundreds of boxes of alleged counterfeit Nike, Adidas and Reebok merchandise. 

A Chinese couple appeared in the Randburg magistrate Court, in Johannesburg South Africa, in connection with large-scale counterfeit merchandise, according to the South African daily, The Citizen, on June 3. 

The couple were arrested after four Lesotho women were found in a house in North Riding, where the women were allegedly held hostage by the couple since January.  

There, it is claimed, the women were forced to replace clothing and footwear labels of unknown manufacturers with more lucrative brand labels. 

It is alleged the women were lured to South Africa with promises of domestic work.

06 May 2005