The Ministry of Commerce and Investment has defamed a citizen and an expat of Egyptian nationality, after a verdict issued convicting them for the crime of commercial cover-up. It has been proved that the citizen has been enabling the expat to engage in commercial activity, using his commercial registration, and to work for his own account in the field of agricultural products in Al-Jouf Region.
The judgment issued by the Administrative Court in Sakaka included a fine of one hundred and ten thousand riyals on the violators, the closure of the Establishment, liquidation of its trade activity, cancellation of its license, writing off the commercial register, preventing the citizen of practicing the same trade activity, besides deporting the expat from the Kingdom, after the execution of the judgment, and not to be allowed to return for work in the kingdom, also publishing the verdict in a local newspaper at the expense of the offenders.
In details, MCI received a tip about a suspected case of commercial concealment. After carrying out the necessary investigation, material evidences have been seized, condemning the convicts of commercial concealment. The citizen has been enabling the expat to work for his own account in the field of agricultural products and fodder. Therefore, the case was referred to the concerned authorities for taking the legal measures against the offenders, 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 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.