16.—(1) Any person, other than a body corporate, but including a director or officer of a body corporate, who commits an offence under this Act shall be liable, where no other penalty is specifically provided for such an offence, to a fine not exceeding $2,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to both, and in the case of a second or subsequent offence to a fine not exceeding $20,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years or to both.
(2) Any body corporate which commits an offence under this Act shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 and in the case of a second or subsequent offence to a fine not exceeding $20,000.
(3) Where a trader or commission agent is convicted of an offence under this Act the court by which he is so convicted may, in addition to any other penalty, make an order debarring him or any firm of which he is a partner or any corporation of which he is an officer, from carrying on business for such period as the court may determine. Any person who fails to comply with any such order shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $20,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year or to both.
(4) Where a person charged with an offence under this Act is a body corporate every person who, at the time of the commission of the offence, was a director or officer of the body corporate may be charged jointly in the same proceedings with the body corporate, and where the body corporate is convicted of the offence, every such director or officer shall be deemed to be guilty of that offence unless he proves that the offence was committed without his knowledge or that he exercised all due diligence to prevent the commission of the offence.
(5) In any proceedings under subsection (4) jointly against a body corporate and a director or officer thereof for an offence under this Act any evidence that the body corporate was guilty of the offence shall be deemed to be evidence that the director or officer was guilty of that offence.
(6) Any person who would have been liable under any of the provisions of this Act to any penalty for anything done or omitted if the thing had been done or omitted by him personally shall be liable to the same penalty if the thing has been done or omitted by his partner, agent or servant, unless he proves to the satisfaction of the court that he took all reasonable precautions to prevent the doing or omission of the thing.
(7) A District Court shall have power to try any offence under this Act and may impose the full penalty provided by this Act or by any order or rule made under this Act.