All goods, property and effects, liable to the payment of duties, shall, in all cases when sold at auction, be struck off to the highest bidder, and when the auctioneer, or owner, or any person employed by them, or either of them, shall be such bidder, they shall be subject to the same duties as if struck off to any other person; but this section shall not be construed to render valid any sale which would otherwise be deemed fraudulent and void.
MCL 446.33