Court orders reduction in gasoline prices in Maranhão.
The presiding judge of the Court of Diffuse and Collective Interests of São Luís, Douglas de Melo Martins, has ordered gas stations in the capital of Maranhão to reduce fuel prices. The State Network for Consumer Protection filed a public civil action against 244 gas stations in the city that increased fuel prices above the readjustment authorized by the federal government. The expected increase was, at most, R$ 0,22 for gasoline and R$ 0,15 for diesel; however, increases above R$ 0,50 were observed.
Marcelo Brandão – Reporter for Agência Brasil
The presiding judge of the Court of Diffuse and Collective Interests of São Luís, Douglas de Melo Martins, has ordered gas stations in the capital of Maranhão to reduce fuel prices. The State Network for Consumer Protection (RedCon) filed a public civil action against 244 gas stations in the city that increased fuel prices above the readjustment authorized by the federal government.
The expected increase was, at most, R$ 0,22 for gasoline and R$ 0,15 for diesel. However, increases exceeding R$ 0,50 were observed. The court order also mentions the reinstatement of the ethanol price and a fine of R$ 20 per day of non-compliance.
RedCon, formed by the Consumer Defense Center of the State Public Defender's Office, the State Public Prosecutor's Office, and the Consumer Protection Police Station, among other bodies, obtained information from the National Petroleum Agency (ANP) that the price increase would not be justified by the price cuts. Based on this information, the organization filed the lawsuit, the decision of which was published on the 13th.
“The decision is a great victory for the people of Maranhão and demonstrates that, from now on, the laws will be respected in our state,” said the director of Procon-MA, Duarte Júnior. In the opinion of public defender Luís Otávio, the decision shows that consumer protection agencies, working together, can guarantee the rights of the population.