The deputy director-general of the Department of Internal Trade held a joint press conference with the Consumer Protection Police Division after receiving complaints that durian vendors, both at the trunk of a store and at street stalls, were using tricks to alter scales to increase the weight of durians in order to get a better price. This is considered an illegal act of cheating on scales. He emphasized that the punishment is severe and people should not do this. If you find any, you can immediately file a complaint at 1569.
Mr. Udom Srisomsong, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Internal Trade, revealed that according to the news that a durian shop in Chonburi Province cheated on the scales, causing consumers to record a clip and post it on social media, on June 27, 2024, which was the 6th case after previously finding this behavior in Bangkok, Chonburi, Chumphon, in which the department and related agencies jointly arrested the perpetrators of taking advantage of the public. The Director-Gener
al of the Department of Internal Trade therefore ordered the sending of a special task force of officers, together with the Consumer Protection Police Division (CPPD), to inspect the location according to the news, with a search warrant. The shop owner led the inspection, but did not find the scales as shown in the news image. When questioned, the shop owner admitted that he did not know which of the two scales was inaccurate because he had been using the scales for a long time. When he received a complaint from a customer, in order to prevent damage to the shop, he had thrown away the scales since the day of the incident, without realizing it. He had already bought a new scale to sell products and brought it to calibrate the accuracy, which was found to be accurate and correct.
In this regard, regarding the scales that were discarded, the officers asked them to point out where they had discarded them, but they could not find the scales. The special task force officers therefore informed the accused that suc
h actions were an offense under Section 270 of the Criminal Code, which states that ‘Whoever uses or has for use a scale, measuring device, or measuring instrument that is incorrect in order to take advantage in trade, or has such instruments for sale, shall be liable to imprisonment not exceeding 3 years, or a fine not exceeding 6,000 baht, or both.’ The accused acknowledged and confessed, so the special task force officers took him to the local investigation officer at Phan Thong Police Station to record the charges and proceed with legal action.
However, from the investigation of the offenses under the Product and Service Act from January 1 to May 30, 2024, 122 complaints were received, most of which were about not displaying the product price and selling products that did not match the displayed price tag. Meanwhile, 172 offenses were found under the Weights and Measures Act, most of which were about using uncertified scales and inaccurate scales. The department has already issued warnings and ordered co
rrections. Therefore, if people are treated unfairly when purchasing products and services, they can report it to the Department of Internal Trade hotline at 1569 so that legal action can be taken. Furthermore, we would like to emphasize that merchants should use scales that have been certified by the Department of Internal Trade. If a scale is found to have not been certified, it will be an offense under the Weights and Measures Act, punishable by imprisonment not exceeding 6 months or a fine not exceeding 20,000 baht, or both. And if it is found that the scales have been modified, the penalty is imprisonment not exceeding 7 years and a fine not exceeding 280,000 baht. Not displaying the price of the product is subject to a fine of up to 10,000 baht. And any business operator who takes the opportunity to raise the price of the product will be subject to imprisonment for 7 years, a fine not exceeding 140,000 baht, or both. -514-Thai News Agency
Source: Thai News Agency