The Ministry of Commerce and Investment has defamed a citizen and an expat of Pakistani nationality after a judicial ruling, convicting them of the crime of commercial concealment. The citizen was found guilty by enabling the expat to engage in an unauthorized commercial activity and to work for his own account in marketing and selling dates in Buraidah markets, Qassim Region.
The ruling issued by the Criminal Court in Buraidah, including imposing a fine on the violators, also deporting the expat from the Kingdom after the execution of the verdict and not to be allowed to return for work, as well as collecting zakat, fees and taxes, and defamation by publishing the verdict in a local newspaper at the expense of the violators.
It is worth mentioning that MCI had already published seven judicial rulings issued against citizens and residents convicted of the crime of covering up in dates markets in Qassim Region during the last months. This is after implementing inspection tours, targeting markets and outlets selling dates in the cities and governorates of Qassim Region, where those involved were referred to the judicial authorities for taking the necessary legal measures according to 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.