Fed: Contraceptive seller jailed

AAP General News (Australia)
04-30-2004
Fed: Contraceptive seller jailed

SYDNEY, April 30 AAP - A man who sold the contraceptive pill on the internet despite
being ordered by the Federal Court to stop has been jailed.

David Hughes has been sentenced by the Federal Court to up to six months jail for contempt
after he continued to sell the contraceptive pill online.

The jail term was handed down after the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission
(ACCC) took action against Hughes for breaching Federal Court orders made in March 2002.

The court then ruled that Hughes had misled or deceived by not telling consumers it
was illegal to supply or acquire the pill without a prescription in Australia and the
US, and failing to tell consumers about health risks.

He also failed to tell consumers that it was significantly cheaper in Australia to
buy oral contraceptives from a pharmacy.

The ACCC alleged Hughes set up a new website offering contraceptives to people in Australia
and the US in violation of previous orders.

"The ACCC could not simply allow persons to disregard orders of the court," ACCC chairman
Graeme Samuel said today.

"The ACCC does not take any court action lightly and expects respondents to abide by
any orders awarded by the courts."

AAP sal/drp/de

KEYWORD: HUGHES

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