17. Penalty for evading payment of light -dues.

(1) If the owner or master of a ship evades or attempts to evade the payment of any light -dues, expenses or costs payable in respect of the ship under this Act, he shall, on conviction by a Presidency Magistrate or Magistrate of the first class having jurisdiction in any port to which the vessel may proceed or in which she may be, found, be punishable with fine which may extend to five times the amount of the sum payable.

(2) In an proceeding before a Magistrate in a prosecution under sub -section (1), any such certificate as is mentioned in sub -section (2) of section 16, stating that the owner or master has evaded such payment shall be sufficient proof of the evasion unless the owner or master shows to the satisfaction of the Magistrate that the departure of the vessel without payment of the sum was caused by stress of weather, or that there was lawful or reasonable grounds for such departure.