The Ministry of Commerce has defamed a commercial establishment, three citizens and one expat of Pakistani nationality, after a court ruling convicted them of the crime of commercial concealment. It has been proved that the convicts have been involved in enabling the expat to practice a commercial activity that he is not authorized to practice in it, and to work for his own account in the trade of dates in the markets of Buraidah - Qassim.
The Ministry has published a summary of the judicial ruling issued by the Criminal Court in Buraidah, including a fine, closure of the facility, liquidation of its trade activity, cancellation of the license and writing off the commercial registration, in addition to deporting the expat from the Kingdom after the execution of the ruling and not to be allowed to return for work, besides defamation by publishing the verdict in a local newspaper at the expense of the violators.
Notably, during the past months, the Ministry of Commerce has published nine judicial rulings issued against citizens and residents convicted of the crime of covering up in the date markets in the Qassim Region. This is after MC inspection teams have carried out inspection tours targeting markets and outlets of selling dates in the cities and governorates of Qassim Region, where those involved were referred to the judicial authorities for taking the legal measures in accordance with the Anti-Commercial Concealment Law.
The Ministry of Commerce receives reports and complaints against the commercial concealment through MC Consumer Call Center (1900), or through an application of a Commercial Violation Report, or via the Ministry’s website. Notably, the Ministry grants a financial reward to the informer that may reach up to 30% of the total fines after collection. The fine may reach to five million riyals against each violator.