Section 37
In any prosecution for an offence under this Enactment proof of —
(a)
the existence of artificial means which, either alone or in conjunction with additional artificial means not found, could be used for altering, or facilitating the alteration, of the index of any meter or instrument used for registering the quantity of gas supplied;
(b)
the existence of artificial means which, either alone or in conjunction with additional artificial means not found, would prevent, or facilitate the prevention of, any meter or instrument from duly registering the quantity of gas supplied, or would facilitate the dishonest abstraction, consumption, or use of gas; or
(c)
the fitting of any artificial, mechanical or any other part or connection to;
(ii)
the absence or removal of any part or connection from; or
(iii)
the interference with any part or connection of, any apparatus in the circumstances that the fitting, absence, removal or interference would prevent or facilitate the prevention of any meter or other instrument from duly registering the quantity of gas supplied, or would facilitate the dishonest abstraction, consumption or use of gas, shall be prima facie evidence that there has been dishonest alteration of the index of any meter or instrument, or prevention, abstraction, consumption or use of gas, as the case may be, and that the dishonest alteration, prevention, abstraction, consumption or use, as the case may be, has been carried out by —
(aa) the person fitting the artificial, mechanical or any other such part or connection as aforesaid;
(bb) the person removing any such part or connection as aforesaid;
(cc)
the person interfering with any such part or connection as aforesaid;
(dd)
the consumer using the meter or instrument;
(ee) the person having control of the pipeline or piping system or part thereof where it is fixed; or
(ff) the occupiers of the premises on which the meter or instrument is installed.
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