RIYADH — The National Program to Combat Commercial Concealment carried out 5,270 inspection visits across the Kingdom during the last month of July. The inspection campaign resulted in the detection of 130 suspected commercial cover-up cases.
The suspected violators were referred to the competent authorities for investigation and the enforcement of the penalties prescribed under the Anti-Concealment Law.
The inspections were conducted to verify the compliance of commercial establishments and detect violations of the Anti-Concealment Law. The targeted sectors included travel and tourism agencies, hotels, cafeterias, and men’s ready-made clothing retail outlets.
The Anti-Concealment Law stipulates penalties of up to five years’ imprisonment, fines of up to SR5 million, and the seizure and confiscation of illicit proceeds following the issuance of final judicial rulings against those found guilty.
In addition, the law stipulates a range of supplementary penalties, including the closure of the establishment, liquidation of the business, cancellation of the commercial registration, prohibition from engaging in commercial activities, collection of zakat, fees, and taxes, public disclosure of the violation, deportation of the concealed party from the Kingdom, and a ban on their return for employment.
Source: Saudi Gazette