Any retailer who, with intent to injure competitors or destroy competition, advertises, offers to sell or sells at retail any item of merchandise at less than cost to the retailer, or any wholesaler who, with intent as aforesaid, advertises, offers to sell or sells at wholesale any item of merchandise at less than cost to the wholesaler shall be punished by a fine of not more than $500. In all prosecutions under this section, proof of consistent and repeated advertisements, offers to sell or sales of any items of merchandise by any retailer or wholesaler at less than cost to them as defined in this chapter, said advertisements, offers to sell and sales thereby forming a pattern of sales below cost, shall be prima facie evidence of intent to injure competitors and destroy competition.
10 M.R.S. § 1207