The Ministry of Information issued a press release yesterday banning media outlets from broadcasting an advertisement from a Chinese company making outlandish claims about the health benefits of a platinum bracelet.

China’s Happy Shopping has reportedly alleged in ads that a platinum bracelet bearing the image of the Buddhist bodhisattva Guanyin protects against radiation, cures diseases and does not change colour when placed in fire.

The Information Ministry described the claims as “lies and exaggerations”, prohibiting local media outlets from carrying the advertisement.

Ministry of Information cabinet chief Chhum Socheath said  Ministry of Commerce officials had examined the bracelet and found that it had no medicinal value.

“It is imported from abroad by a Chinese company and it has been advertised again and again by some media,” Chhum Socheath said, noting that the TV3 television channel had broadcast the ad with particular frequency.

“The Ministry of Commerce is doing the right thing,” he said.

Kong Savoeun, broadcasting director of TV3, said yesterday that the ad had been removed from the channel per the ministry’s instructions.

Information Minister Khieu Kanharith could not be reached for comment, nor could representatives of Happy Shopping.