The Ministry of Commerce and Investment has defamed a shop owner specialized in selling accessories and ready-made clothes in Makkah. He was found guilty of violating Anti-Commercial Fraud Law by violating the terms and conditions of discounts procedures, especially the advertised sales period. This is considered a kind of deception and misleading towards the consumers.
The Ministry has published the content of the court ruling issued by the Criminal Court in Makkah, which includes a fine, and the publication of the sentence in two newspapers at the expense of the violator.
Notably, MCI is conducting inspection tours to monitor the establishments' compliance with the terms and conditions of discounts, besides doing the necessary verification to ensure that such sales are licensed, and to ensure as well that there is no difference between the advertised prices and the ones with the cashier. MCI is referring any violations to the judicial authorities for taking the legal measures, in accordance with the Anti-Commercial Fraud Law.
It is worth mentioning that MCI is providing the service of getting the sales license online. This is part of the Ministry's efforts to verify the reality of discounts and to ensure the absence of manipulation or misleading towards the consumers, besides eliminating all delusion or misleading discounts.
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.