Penal Provisions.
Section 21
SEC. 21. Penal Provisions.—Any person who fails to pay or refuses to turn over the collections of the taxes including surcharges and penalties, if any, and the properties and assets, mentioned in this Act within the period fixed in Sections four, nine and ten hereof, or who delays, obstructs, or prevents the same or who fails or refuses to effect the release from the Account within the period fixed in Section five hereof, or who delays, obstructs, or prevents the same, or who orders, causes, or effects the transfer or diversion of the collections or proceeds of this Account, or any portion thereof, or otherwise unreasonably delays, prevents, or obstructs the implementation of the objectives of this Act, shall be punished with a fine not exceeding ten thousand pesos or imprisonment not exceeding six years or both in the discretion of the Court. If the offender is a government official or employee, he shall, in addition, be dismissed from the service with prejudice to reinstatement and with disqualification for election or appointment to any public office. Any official who orders, causes, or effects the transfer or diversion of this Account or any portion thereof, or otherwise unreasonably delays, prevents or obstructs the implementation of the objectives of this Act, or who violates or neglects to comply with any circular, order or process issued relative to the implementation of this Act, shall, likewise, be liable to the penalties hereinabove imposed. Any collusion in the extension of credit under this Act between the farmer-borrower on the one hand, and the rural bank on the other, prejudicial to the Agricultural Guarantee Fund, shall, after conviction, be punished by imprisonment of not less than ten years, and a fine of not less than ten thousand pesos: Provided, That in the case of a rural bank, the member of the Board of Directors or Trustees or executive officials thereof found responsible shall be held liable. A collusion exists whenever the farmer-borrower and the rural bank official or officials enter into an agreement for a fraudulent purpose or whenever said parties conspire secretly to defraud the government.