Perth Petrol Station Under Investigation for Alleged Fuel Grade Fraud
A Perth petrol station is currently under investigation by Consumer Protection authorities for allegedly selling low-grade fuel as premium. The servo's owner, Umar Farooq, claims he is being unfairly targeted because of his competitive pricing strategy, which has made his station one of the cheapest in the area.
Consumer Protection Seizes Documents
Consumer Protection officials seized documents from the Burk Fuel's Lansdale head office two weeks ago as part of their investigation. Farooq stated that he was never informed about the specific reasons for the seizure, leading him to believe it might be related to his low prices.
"Because of the whole being the cheapest ones and stuff like that, we've been victims of where departments actually have given us a hard time on this," Farooq explained. He emphasized that his business operates transparently and sources fuel from the same terminals as other stations in Perth.
Allegations of Fuel Grade Misrepresentation
7NEWS has revealed that Burk Fuel is at the centre of a Consumer Protection investigation examining whether the company sold 91 octane fuel as 95 or 98 octane. This practice, if proven, would constitute fraud by misrepresenting the quality of the fuel to consumers.
Farooq strongly denies these allegations, insisting that his fuel meets all required standards. "Not at all," he responded when asked if he was selling a lower grade product at a higher price. He highlighted that his supplier is well-known in Perth and that all fuel is sourced from reputable terminals.
Government Confirms Investigation
The state government confirmed late on Wednesday that it is investigating the octane quality of Burk's fuel. A spokesperson stated, "It concerns issues associated with the octane quality of the fuel supplied." This investigation is part of broader efforts to ensure compliance with consumer protection laws in the fuel industry.
Premier Roger Cook warned that such practices would not be tolerated. "It doesn't matter if you're someone that's trying to put a cheeky few cents on top of the price of a litre of fuel, or you're someone that's trying to pull the wool over the eyes by saying, by selling a product for something it isn't. There are laws against that and we will catch you," Cook said.
Increased Testing and Compliance
Farooq revealed that before the nation's fuel crisis, his fuel was sample tested once every three months. Now, it is being tested every two weeks, indicating heightened scrutiny from authorities. He attributes this increased attention to his low prices, which he believes have made his business a target.
Despite the investigation, Farooq has pledged full cooperation. "All those documents are in hand and we're more than happy to hand it over at any time," he said. Burk Fuel has committed to providing any requested records to Consumer Protection as the investigation continues.
The investigation is ongoing, with no further details released at this time. Consumer Protection authorities are expected to provide updates as they proceed with their examination of the fuel quality and compliance issues at the Perth petrol station.
