The Ministry of Commerce and Investment has defamed the owner of a food Est. in Buraidah, Qassim, together with his agent and one of his employees of Egyptian nationality. They were found guilty of violating the Anti-Commercial Fraud Law through possessing and selling large quantities of expired frozen chicken. This is considered a punishable offense, since it does pose risk on the health and safety of consumers.
A verdict was issued by the Criminal Court in Buraidah, including a fine of 100,000 riyals against the violators, confiscation and destruction of the seized quantities, and defamation by publishing the sentence in two local newspapers at the expense of the violators.
In details, the Road Security Patrols stopped a truck, on Qassim-Madinah highway, containing 724 expired frozen chicken cartons belonging to the said Est. Accordingly, with the cooperation of MCI inspection teams, the seized quantities were confiscated and destroyed and those responsible were referred to the Public Prosecution and then to the judicial authorities for taking the legal measures against them, in accordance with the Anti-Commercial Fraud Law.
The Ministry of Commerce and Investment confirms the continuation of addressing those violating the Anti-Commercial Fraud Law by taking stern measures and imposing the legal penalties against them, in view of the fraud and deception towards the consumers. The Rules & Regulations related to Anti-Commercial Fraud Law stipulates penalties that may reach to three-year imprisonment, fines up to one million riyals or both , Defamation in two local newspapers at the expense of the violator, deportation of the illegal labors from the Kingdom, besides the suspension and prevention of practicing the same commercial activity.
MCI calls on all consumers to lodge their complaints or observations through MCI Consumer Call Center (1900), or through the application of a Commercial Violation Report, or via the Ministry's website.