The Ministry of Commerce and Investment has defamed a citizen for covering up an expat of Lebanese nationality after a judicial ruling, convicting the citizen of enabling the expat to work for his own account in contracting, gypsum and maintenance activities in Riyadh.
The evidence has shown the expatriate’s ownership of the Est., which is covered up under the name of the citizen, also the expat’s large volume of financial dealings, while his profession is a "Décor Technician", besides managing and running the work of the Est. as if he were the real owner.
MCI has published a summary of the judicial ruling issued by the Criminal Court in Riyadh, which includes imposing a fine, closing the facility, liquidating its trade activity, cancelling the license, writing off the commercial registration, preventing the citizen of practicing the same trade activity, and defaming by publishing the ruling in a local newspaper at expense of the defendant.
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.