Buraidah: Public shaming of an Afghan resident convicted of commercial cover-up in restaurants
The Saudi Ministry of Commerce announced that it has publicly named and shamed an Afghan resident following a final court ruling convicting him of commercial concealment in the restaurant sector in Buraidah, Qassim region. This announcement comes as part of the ministry's ongoing inspection and monitoring campaigns to regulate markets and combat informal economic practices.
Details of the crime and the evidence seized
Investigations conducted by oversight teams revealed the expatriate's involvement in managing a restaurant establishment. The Ministry seized conclusive physical evidence confirming his actions as the de facto owner of the establishment. This evidence included his undertaking responsibilities not typically assigned to an employee, such as procuring goods, paying rent, and paying employee salaries. He was also responsible for collecting business revenues and transferring the proceeds outside the Kingdom, a clear violation of the Anti-Concealment Law.
Penalties issued by the criminal court
Based on the evidence presented, the Riyadh Criminal Court issued a ruling that included deterrent penalties for the convicted individual, including a four-month prison sentence and a fine of ten thousand riyals. The ruling also stipulated the permanent deportation of the person who harbored the offender from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia after he serves his sentence, a ban on his return to work in the Kingdom, and public shaming through the publication of the verdict in local newspapers at his own expense.
The context of combating commercial concealment and its economic importance
This case is part of the National Program to Combat Commercial Concealment, a collaborative effort involving several government agencies aimed at eliminating the shadow economy. Commercial concealment is a crime that directly harms the national economy, leading to unfair competition for citizens and entrepreneurs, a decline in the quality of services and products, and the negative impact of capital flight instead of its circulation within the local economy.
Legal framework and severe penalties
It is worth noting that the new anti-concealment system in the Kingdom imposes strict penalties to deter violators, with maximum penalties reaching five years imprisonment and a fine of up to five million riyals. The system also stipulates subsidiary penalties, including the confiscation of illicit funds after final court rulings, the cancellation of the commercial registration of the implicated establishment, the revocation of licenses, the dissolution of the establishment, and a ban on the concealer from engaging in commercial activity for up to five years. These decisive measures aim to create an attractive and fair investment environment and enable citizens to conduct business in an environment free from unfair competition.
