The Ministry of Commerce and Investment has defamed a citizen and an expat of Syrian nationality after a judicial ruling condemning them for commercial concealment. It has been proved that the citizen is enabling the expat to engage in commercial activity and work for his own account as a barber in Quwayi'ia Governorate.
A verdict issued by the Criminal Court in Riyadh to impose a fine on the violators, in addition to the closure of the shop, liquidation of its trade activity, cancellation the license, writing off the C.R., preventing the citizen to practice the same trade activity, deporting the expat from the Kingdom after the execution of the sentence, and not to be allowed to return for work, besides defamation by publishing the sentence in a local newspaper at the expense of the violators.
MCI inspectors monitored evidences proving the involvement of those convicted of the crime of commercial concealment. The expat has already hired barber chairs in the shop against SR 2500 per chair. Accordingly, it has been proved that the citizen has been enabling the expat to practice a trade activity and to work for his own account, so the case is referred to the judicial authority 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.