Municipal officials had raided the popular eatery, Al-Dahabi Restaurant, whose workers allegedly bought sick goats for a cheaper price and sometimes served the meat of animals that had been dead for a long time.

Prince Abdul Aziz ordered the arrests of all those connected to the restaurant and to refer them to the General Prosecution and Investigation Commission.

He also directed the Madinah municipality to continue field inspections at all restaurants to make sure that they meet health standards.

He said that there should be no leniency for violators who play with people’s health and they should be punished sternly.

The prince said citizens should also play a big role in reporting restaurateurs who violate hygiene rules.

The restaurant was shut down after the raid. Workers in the restaurant were of Arab nationality and four of them had no health certificates or valid iqamas (residence permits).

The rear of the restaurant where the workers lived had been turned into a slaughterhouse.

Sick and dead goats were found at the scene. The health team confiscated meat unfit for human consumption stored in refrigerators.

Head of the Uhud branch of the municipality, Hamza Seebaih, said penalties for slaughtering sick animals include a SR1,000 fine. The fine for employees without work permits is SR2,000.

The fine for working without health certificates is SR500 per employee. Restaurants working without permits to operate incur a fine of between SR2,000 and SR10,000.

If the workers are found to be working in unhygienic conditions, the fines range between SR300 and SR500.

Seebaih urged citizens to call 940 if they detected any health violations in restaurants.