The Ministry of Commerce and Investment has defamed a citizen after a court ruling convicted him of the crime of commercial concealment. He was found guilty of covering-up by enabling a number of expatriates to work for their own account in building contracting in Hail, against a monthly amount to be paid to the citizen for using his C.R. and the name of his Est.
The verdict issued by the criminal court in Hail included imposing a fine on the violator, closing the establishment, liquidating its trade activity and canceling its license, in addition to writing off the commercial registration of the establishment, preventing the violator of practicing the same trade activity, besides defamation by publishing the verdict in a local newspaper at the expense of the violators.
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.