On 5th February, 2024, Secretariat of the Commission commenced investigations against Priceworth Wholesale on allegations of engaging in misleading and unconscionable conduct in the supply of sugar.
A Complainant alleged that he bought 5 bales of sugar from the Respondents shop which in Area 2, Lilongwe and paid a total sum of MK220,000.00 (the price for sugar was K44,000.00/ bale). The Complainant further alleged that despite paying K220,000.00, he was issued with a receipt valued at K210,000.00.
Investigations revealed that by issuing a receipt which had a lower value than the actual amount paid, the Respondent misled the Complainant.
Considering the sugar scarcity situation at that time, and that the consumers had few alternative places where they could find the sugar, the conduct by the Respondents was harsh, unfair, unreasonable, and unconscionable.
Upon deliberation, the Commission made the following determinations:
- Referred the matter to the DPP to institute criminal proceedings against the Respondents for engaging in misleading and unconscionable conduct in the trade of goods.
- Referred the matter to the Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) for reassessment of taxes on all the sugar sales made by the Respondents during this period to reflect the higher values which the consumers were paying.