Service Station Owners That Cheat In Buying Or Selling Fuel Face Heavy Fines, 5 Years In Jail

Owners of oil companies and service stations that cheat in buying or selling fuel face heavy fines under new regulations gazetted at the weekend.

The new regulations also show that almost all the fuel price increase is accounted for by a five-fold rise in duties rather than allowing parallel pricing. Those caught cheating risk fines and five-year jail terms. The regulations now make it an offence to withhold petroleum products ordinarily meant for sale without good reason. Any person who withholds any petroleum product shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable to pay a fine of up to level nine or imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years or both such fine and such imprisonment.

The regulations are contained in two statutory instruments published in an Extraordinary Government Gazette dated Saturday: The Petroleum (Petroleum Products Pricing) Regulations, 2019, made by Energy and Power Development Minister Joram Gumbo and the Customs and Excise (Tariff) (Amendment) Notice, 2019 (No. 7) made by Finance and Economic Development Minister Prof Mthuli Ncube. The Customs and Excise Notice raises the duty on petrol from 45c/litre to $2,31/litre and the duty on all diesel and paraffin from 40c/litre to $2,05/litre. These fiscal measures account for more than 90 percent of the rise in retail prices for fuels.

Also Read:

• New Fuel Price Is Mainly An Increased Fuel Tax, Redan Notice Reveals

More: Herald

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