KUWAIT: Ministry of commerce and industry inspectors discovered 3.940 kg of counterfeit gold products valued at KD 50,000 ($165,000) at a jewelry store in Al- Rai. The case was later referred to prosecution. The ministry said in a statement yesterday that the forged items were gold jewelry of Indian designs.

Cavities in the gold jewelry items were filled with cheap materials in order to increase their weight and sell them as pure gold. The ministry will take all needed procedures against the forgers, who have already been referred to competent authorities, the statement added.

The ministry will increase inspection of gold and jewelry markets to verify validity and condition of scales and percentage of precious stones set within the items displayed for sale. The ministry is supervising all precious metals and stones, whether those displayed at stores, produced in local factories or coming from abroad, it said. — KUNA