No officer or employee of the commission performing any function or duty under this article, shall have a direct or indirect financial interest in underground or surface coal mining operations. Whoever knowingly violates the provisions of this section shall, upon conviction, be punished by a fine of not more than $2,500.00, or by imprisonment for not more than one year, or both, and shall relinquish his commission seat.
Ala. Code § 9-16-76 (1975)