RIYADH — The National Program for Combating Commercial Concealment has conducted more than 11,300 inspection visits during May of 2023. The aim of the visit is to check on the commercial establishments' compliance with the approved regulations of the markets, as well as to seize crimes and violations of the Anti-Concealment Law throughout Saudi Arabia's regions. The center has conducted 9,089 guided inspection visits which were carried out according to the suspicion indicators. The inspection visits also included 2,027 scheduled visits to specific sectors, in addition to 231 visits carried out based on the reports of suspicion of cover-up. The ministries that participated in the inspection visits were the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing, the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, in addition to the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority. The inspection visits included the activities of contracting; auto parts; food; beverages; clothes; shoes; barber shops and many more. The center issued immediate violations, and arrested cases of suspected cover-up. The accused were referred to the competent authorities to be investigated, in addition to applying of legal penalties against them, if proven. The penalties of Saudi Arabia's Anti-Concealment Law reach up to 5 years in jail, as well as a fine of SR5 million. The penalties also include seizure and confiscation of illegal funds after final court rulings are issued against those involved. Moreover, the penalties also include closing the facility; in addition to liquidating the activity; writing off the commercial registration; preventing the accused from practicing commercial activities; collecting zakat, fees and taxes; defamation; deporting the accused from Saudi Arabia and not allowing them to return to work.
