The Ministry of Commerce and Investment has defamed two citizens and an expat of Jordanian nationality following a court ruling condemning them for commercial concealment. It has been proved that the two citizens have enabled the expat to engage in an unauthorized business activity, and to work for his own account in fast food restaurant in the city of Sakaka.
The sentence issued by the Criminal Court in Sakaka imposed a fine on the violators, closing the restaurant, liquidation of the trade activity, cancelling the license, writing off the C.R., and defamation by publishing the ruling in a local newspaper at the expense of the defendants.
On February 27, MCI had already defamed the said expat and issued the relevant verdict, which included three-month imprisonment, a fine and deportation from the Kingdom after the execution of the sentence, and not to be allowed to return for work, also defaming the expat by publishing the verdict in the local newspaper.
MCI has received a tip about a suspected commercial concealment in a restaurant in Sakaka Governorate. After carrying out the necessary investigation, physical evidences have been found confirming that the expat had rented the restaurant for his own account from the two citizens. He was running the restaurant and bearing all expenses, like paying the labor salaries, accommodation, bills, besides transferring his profits outside the Kingdom. Accordingly, the three defendants were referred to the judicial 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 approved earlier this week to implement 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.