Mohammed Abdul Matin, and his company Pure Alankar Jewellers Ltd, of Bethnal Green Road, were fined after they were found to be selling gold and silver jewellery without hallmarks.
The case was brought against Matin by Tower Hamlets Trading Standards, after visits to the shop in March 2024 and July 2024 as part of Operation Stamping It Out.
A large amount of unhallmarked jewellery was found at the shop, Tower Hamlets Council said, and Matin was told to remove these items from sale and was warned that the shop would be checked again.
When officers returned on July 26, 2024, they found that around 3,211 items of jewellery were on display, and an estimated 80 per cent were unhallmarked.
It was later agreed that 1,565 items were being sold illegally.
The case was heard at Thames Magistrates Court on September 30, 2025, where Matin and Pure Alankar Jewellers Ltd both pleaded guilty to 11 offences under the Hallmarking Act 1973 for selling unhallmarked gold and silver, and one offence under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 for displaying a “no returns or refunds” sign, which misled customers about their rights.
Pure Alankar Jewellers Ltd was fined £2,100 with an £840 victim surcharge, and Matin was fined £1,100 with a £440 victim surcharge.
Pure Alankar Jewellers Ltd was also ordered to pay £2,909.48 in prosecution costs.
Councillor Abu Talha Chowdhury, cabinet member for public protection and integrated enforcement, said: “It is illegal to sell jewellery made from precious metals that has not been hallmarked.
“The law protects customers by making sure the gold or silver they buy is genuine and of the correct quality.
“People should be confident that when they buy valuable items, they are getting what they pay for.
“Signs that deny customers their rights to refunds or exchanges are also misleading and unlawful.
“Our trading standards team will continue to take action against businesses that break the law and bring cases like this to public attention.”
