Singapore legislation
Section 47
of Gas Act 2001
Section 47
Unauthorised connection with gas pipeline network, etc.
(1)
Any person who —
intentionally lays or causes to be laid a pipe or a gas fitting to connect with any gas pipeline or gas pipeline network owned by, or under the management or control of, a gas transporter without the consent of the gas transporter;
dishonestly or fraudulently abstracts, uses, consumes or diverts any gas supplied by a gas licensee;
alters or tampers with any part of any meter or meter installation for registering the quantity of gas supplied to any person or premises;
does any thing that compromises or adversely affects the ability or proper operation of any meter or meter installation in duly registering the quantity of gas supplied to any person or premises; or
causes or permits any other person to engage in conduct mentioned in paragraph (b), (c) or (d),shall be guilty of an offence.
(2)
A person who is guilty of an offence under subsection (1)(a), (b), (c), (d) or (e) shall be liable on conviction to one or both of the following:
a fine that is the total of —
an amount not exceeding $50,000; and
an amount equal to 3 times the value of gas —
diverted, abstracted, used or consumed in the commission of the offence under subsection (1)(a) or (b), or caused or permitted to be so diverted, abstracted, used or consumed in the commission of the offence under subsection (1)(e), as the case may be; or
supplied as a result of the commission of the offence under subsection (1)(c), (d) or (e), as the case may be;
imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years,and, in the case of a continuing offence, to a further fine not exceeding $250 for every day or part of a day during which the offence continues after conviction.
(3)
The value of the gas diverted, abstracted, used, consumed or supplied as mentioned in subsection (2)(a)(ii), may be determined based on the amount of such gas fairly and reasonably estimated after comparing records (as are appropriate and available) of gas usage before, during and after the diversion, abstraction, use, consumption or supply.
(4)
If, in any proceedings before a court for an offence under subsection (1)(c) or (e), it is alleged that a person altered or tampered with any part of any meter or meter installation mentioned in subsection (1)(c), and it is proved —
that, at the time of the alleged conduct —
a device was attached to, or was in the vicinity of, the meter or meter installation (or any part of the meter or meter installation) for the purpose of altering the index of the meter or meter installation or preventing the meter or meter installation from duly registering the quantity of gas supplied;
the covering of the meter or meter installation had a hole which is not a result of ordinary wear and tear;
any seal or lock fastened by a gas licensee to or on any part of the meter or meter installation was damaged, removed or changed; or
any paint or other chemical compound applied by a gas licensee to or on any screw, component or mechanism of any part of the meter or meter installation was damaged or removed or altered in its chemical composition; and
that the person had, at the time of the alleged conduct, custody or control of the meter or meter installation,then the person is presumed, until the contrary is proved, to have so altered or tampered with the meter or meter installation.
(5)
In the case of any offence under subsection (1), the gas transporter may disconnect the premises of, or the relevant gas shipper or relevant gas retailer may discontinue the supply of gas to the premises of, the person referred to in that subsection.