The Ministry of Commerce and Investment has defamed a citizen for covering up an expatriate of Arab nationality, after a court ruling convicted him of the crime of commercial concealment. The citizen was found guilty by enabling the expat to work for his own account in contracting activities in Riyadh.
The Ministry published a summary of the judgment issued by Riyadh Criminal Court, imposing a fine on the citizen, closing the establishment, liquidating its trade activity, canceling its license, collecting zakat, fees and taxes, in addition to writing off the commercial register, also preventing the citizen from practicing the same trade activity, deporting the expat from the Kingdom, besides defamation by publishing the judgment in a local newspaper at the expense of the defendant.
In details, MCI inspection teams suspected a commercial concealment case at an Est. in Riyadh, where evidences had been seized, confirming that the citizen was enabling the expatriate to work for his own account by supplying fuel to the farms in partnership with a Transport Co. The Expat used to deliver fuel, collect revenues, supervise the labors, give their salaries and transferring money to individuals and Establishments. Therefore, the case was referred to the concerned authorities for taking the legal measures in accordance with the Anti-Commercial Concealment Law.
The Ministry of Commerce and Investment calls on all citizens and residents in all regions of the Kingdom to report cases of commercial concealment through the Ministry's Consumer Call Center (1900) or through the application of a Commercial Violation Report, or via the Ministry's website. Notably, MCI is granting an award of up to 30% of the total sentenced fines after collection. The fine may reach one million riyals against each violator.
It is worth mentioning that the Royal Supreme Authority has approved recently the implementation of the recommendations of the National Program for Combating the Commercial Concealment, which involves ten government agencies. This program aims to address and combat commercial concealment in all sectors, besides developing relevant regulations and legislations, also stimulating e-commerce and using technical solutions. This program aims as well at regulating and organizing the financial transactions to eliminate transferring of money abroad, as well as enhancing development in the private sector, also creating attractive jobs for Saudis and encouraging them to invest in various trade activities, more over finding solutions to the problem of illegal ownership of foreigners in the private sector.