The Ministry of Commerce and Investment has defamed a citizen and an expatriate of Syrian Nationality following a judicial ruling condemning them for commercial concealment. It has been proved that the citizen has been enabling the expat to practice a trade activity by using his commercial registration and working for his own account in contracting activity in Riyadh.
The sentence issued by the Criminal Court in Riyadh included a fine of SR 80,000 on the violators, the closure of the Establishment, the liquidation of its activity, cancellation of the license, writing off the commercial registration, preventing the citizen of practicing the same trade activity, besides deporting the expat from the Kingdom, and not to be allowed to return for work, also defamation by publishing the verdict in a local newspaper at the expense of the violators.
In details, MCI inspection teams receive a tip about a suspected case of commercial concealment. After carrying out the necessary investigation, the inspectors detected evidences and documents proving that the expat is running the Est. for his own account. Therefore, it has been proved that the citizen has enabled the expat to practice a trade activity he is not authorized or allowed to do. Therefore, the case is referred to the judicial authority for taking the legal measures against the violators, 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.