RIYADH — The Ministry of Commerce has penalized a Saudi woman and two Bangladeshi nationals after a final court ruling was issued convicting them of the crime of commercial cover-up (tasattur) in the transportation and logistics sector in the city of Makkah. The ministry published names of the convicts and their crime in the local media at their own personal expense. The ministry published the ruling issued by the Criminal Court in Makkah, which includes imposing a fine of SR150,000, canceling the commercial registration, revoking the license, liquidating the establishment's activities, and collecting zakat, fees, and taxes. The defendants were also banned from engaging in any commercial activity. The court also ordered deportation of the Bangladeshis and imposed a ban on their return to Saudi Arabia for work. It was found in investigations that the woman assisted the Bangladeshis to engage in commercial activity in the transport sector without obtaining a foreign investment license. The Bangladeshis were allowed to work for their own account, as well as to generate revenue from the illegal activity, and transfer funds outside the Kingdom. It was also found that the Saudi woman purchased tankers through financing loans in her name to support the foreign residents in engaging in transportation activity. It was proved that the Bangladeshis used the facility as its owners, managing and operating it, and signing contracts and agreements. It is noteworthy that the Anti-Commercial Cover up Law stipulates penalties of up to five years in prison and a fine of up to SR5 million, in addition to the confiscation and seizure of illicit funds after final court rulings are issued against those involved.
