The Chamber of Deputies approved this Wednesday the bill that provides for imprisonment for rising gasoline prices without just cause. The proposal is part of a package of measures announced by the government since the start of the war in the Middle East, with repercussions on the fuel market. The text goes to the Senate.
The project stipulates a prison sentence of 2 to 5 years, in addition to a fine, for anyone who increases, without just cause, the price of fuel with the aim of obtaining an arbitrary increase in profits.
Another hypothesis for increasing the penalty is the practice by an economic agent that holds a dominant position in the market. A dominant position occurs when a company or group of companies is capable of unilaterally or coordinatedly changing market conditions; or control 20% or more of the market.
According to the proposal, penalties will be increased from a third to half if the conduct occurs in the context of a public calamity, supply crisis or relevant instability in the supply market, such as that recently caused by the war between the United States and Iran.
According to the text, there may still be a fine of 100 to 500 fine days. The value, according to the current minimum wage, can vary from R$5,403 to R$4,052,500.
