Strict penalties for violators can be up to two years imprisonment, fine of million riyals and business suspension
The Ministry of Trade and Investment announced that it referred 450 cases of commercial concealment combat system to the investigation and prosecution in the year 1437 AH after 764 commercial facilitation were inspected. According to Article II of the commercial concealment combat system issued by Royal Decree No. M / 22 dated on 05/04/1425 AH the authority of investigation and prosecution implement the investigations on these violations then refer them to Office of the Ombudsman to issue the final verdict.
The ministry implemented enforceable sentences against the violators that are up to two years' imprisonment and a fine of up to a million riyals for every single offender with the deportation to the non-Saudis from the Kingdom and defamation in the local newspapers. The ministry was implementing sanctions, and other procedures included the closing the business and cancel the commercial register with prevention of practicing the same business for five years. The results of the inspection tours revealed that the major violations were in the general contractor and the retail sectors.
It is worth mentioning that the Ministry of Trade and Investment has been carrying out inspection campaigns during last year to decrease the commercial concealment in many active sectors, including construction materials, gold, and jewelry, telecommunications and information technology.
The ministry announced that the inspection campaigns to combat the commercial concealment will continue. And the consumer call center is ready to receive direct calls from government agencies, citizens, and residents as well. The ministry warns all companies, institutions and individuals to not to cooperate with the violators of the systems because that will expose them accountable legal and regulatory penalties. The ministry aims to reduce commercial concealment and create a legal business environment.