The Ministry of Commerce and Investment has defamed a Saudi Lady and an expat of Egyptian nationality, after a court ruling convicted them of the crime of commercial concealment. It has been proved that the lady has been enabling the expat to engage in perfume trading in Buraidah through making an agreement and commercial partnership between the two parties.
The verdict issued by the Criminal Court in Buraidah imposing a fine on the violators, in addition to deporting the expat from the Kingdom after the execution of the verdict and not to be allowed to return for work in the Kingdom, besides defamation by publishing the verdict in a local newspaper at the expense of the violators.
In details, the lady has filed a claim against the expat for writing a check, amounting to one hundred thousand riyals against the partnership in the perfumery industry, upon submitting it for payment, it turned out that the balance of the drawer account was insufficient. After carrying out the necessary investigation, the two parties confessed that they have a partnership relevant to perfume activity. Accordingly, 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.