In an ongoing quest to ensure regulatory compliance and combat illicit practices, the National Program for Combating Commercial Concealment remains steadfast in conducting inspection tours. These tours aim to scrutinize commercial establishments operating within the precious metals and gemstones sector in Madinah Region, seeking to curtail crimes and infractions associated with the Anti-Concealment Law. These efforts aim to expose any potential concealment activities.
Collaborating seamlessly, the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing, along with the Zakat, Tax, and Customs Authority, joined forces to spearhead this regulatory campaign. Their coordinated efforts aligned closely with the joint security operations of the Madinah Police.
As a result of the campaign, a thorough inspection was conducted on 51 commercial establishments, leading to the summoning of owners suspected of engaging in commercial concealment activities. Furthermore, one facility was closed down due to non-compliance with the required legal permits.
To ensure accountability and adherence to the rule of law, the offenders have been referred to the relevant authorities for further investigation and the imposition of appropriate legal penalties, should their guilt be established. Penalties prescribed under the Anti-Concealment Law range from imprisonment for up to five years to substantial fines of five million riyals. Moreover, the program mandates the seizure and confiscation of ill-gotten funds upon the issuance of final judicial verdicts against the implicated individuals.
The repercussions of these legal penalties encompass business closure, activity dissolution, commercial registration revocation, the prohibition from conducting any commercial activities, the obligation to settle Zakat, duties, and taxes, as well as the deportation of individuals engaged in concealment practices, and not allowing them to return to the Kingdom for work.