Penalty for fraudulent use of water

(1) Where any person fraudulently alters the index of any meter used by a licensee for measuring the water supplied by him, or prevents any such meter from registering correctly the quantity of water supplied, or fraudulently abstracts or uses the water of a licensee, he shall, without prejudice to any other right or remedy of the licensee, commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding five thousand dollars and the licensee may do all such work as is necessary for 95 securing the proper working of the meter and may recover the expenses reasonably incurred by him in so doing from the offender as a civil debt. (2) For the purpose of this section if it is proved that a consumer has altered the index of a meter, it shall rest upon him to prove that he did not alter it fraudulently, and the existence of any artificial means under the control of a consumer for preventing a meter from registering correctly, or for enabling him fraudulently to abstract or use water, shall be evidence that he has fraudulently prevented the meter from registering correctly or, as the case may be, has fraudulently abstracted or used water.