The Ministry of Commerce and Investment has defamed the owner of a commercial Est. specialized in selling commodities and consuming items in Dammam. The owner was found guilty of violating the Anti-Commercial Fraud Law by possessing and offering quantities of counterfeit saffron, not conforming to standard specifications.
A judgment was issued by the Criminal Court in Dammam, including imposing a fine on the violator, confiscating and destroying the fake products, and publishing the verdict in two local newspapers at the expense of the defendant.
In details, MCI inspection teams have detected (88) cans of fake saffron (5 grams) . The inspectors suspected that the saffron was not conforming to the approved specification, so samples were sent to specialized laboratories. The results showed that they did not conform to the approved standard specification. The saffron contains a number of industrial colors. Therefore, the fake quantities were confiscated and destroyed, and the case was referred to the judicial authorities for taking the legal measures against the violators.
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.