The Ministry of Commerce and Investment has rewarded a citizen for 90,000 riyals, representing 30% of the fine issued by a court order, for reporting a crime of commercial concealment, for which a citizen and two expatriates of Lebanese nationality have been convicted. The two expats used to practice illegal trade activity by preparing and catering parties and events in Riyadh.
The citizen suspected the regularity of the violating establishment, and he reported that by contacting MCI Consumer Call Center (1900). MCI responded immediately to the report and made the necessary investigation, and then the crime of commercial cover-up has been proved. Consequently, the case has been referred to the Public Prosecution, which in turn referred it to the judiciary and a judicial ruling has been issued .
The criminal court in Riyadh issued a judicial ruling convicting the citizen and the two expatriates for violating the Anti-Commercial Concealment Law. Therefore, they have been fined to SR (300,000) three hundred thousand riyals, in addition to closing the Est., liquidating the trade activity, canceling the commercial register, preventing the citizen from practicing the same trade activity, besides deporting the two expats from Kingdom, and not to be allowed to return for work.
The Ministry of Commerce and Investment is endeavoring to control any cases related to commercial cover-up, and it is keen to apply the Rules & Regulations relevant to Commercial Concealment, also the Ministry would defame the names of violators in local newspapers at their own expense.
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.