The Ministry of Commerce and Investment has defamed the owner of a commercial Est. and an Expat of Yemeni nationality in Makkah, after a judicial ruling condemning them for offering and selling motor oil and coolant not conforming to standard specifications. This is a clear cheating, deception and misleading towards the consumers.
The sentence issued by the Criminal Court in Makkah included a fine, closure of the offending Est., confiscation and destruction of the seized quantities, deporting the expat from the Kingdom after the execution of the sentence and not to be allowed to return for work, and defamation by publishing the sentence in two newspapers at the expense of the violator.
The Ministry of Commerce and Investment confirms the continuation of addressing those violating the Anti-Commercial Fraud Law by taking stern measures and imposing the legal penalties against them, in view of the fraud and deception towards the consumers. The Rules & Regulations related to Anti-Commercial Fraud Law stipulates penalties that may reach to three-year imprisonment, fines up to one million riyals or both , Defamation in two local newspapers at the expense of the violator, deportation of the illegal labors from the Kingdom, besides the suspension and prevention of practicing the same commercial activity.
MCI calls on all consumers to lodge their complaints or observations through MCI Consumer Call Center (1900), or through the application of a Commercial Violation Report, or via the Ministry's website.