The Ministry of Commerce and Investment has defamed two citizens and an expat of Pakistani nationality after a judicial ruling condemning them of violating the Anti-Commercial Concealment Law. The two citizens were found guilty by enabling the expat to work and engage in an unauthorized commercial activity by marketing and selling dates for his own account in Onaiza.
The ruling issued by the Criminal Court in Buraidah included imposing a fine on the three violators, and defamation by publishing the verdict in a local newspaper at the expense of the defendants.
During the past months, MCI inspectors had carried out inspection tours on dates markets in Qassim Region. Six judicial rulings had been issued against citizens and residents convicted of the crime of commercial concealment. Those involved had been referred to the judicial authorities and necessary measures had been taken against them 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.