MAKKAH, 28 April — Commerce Minister Osama Faqeeh has announced amendments to regulations for combating commercial fraud in the country. The amendments which came into force yesterday also include changes in rules governing registration of trade names.
Under the new measures, a commercial establishment which is facing penal action will have the right to obtain a copy of the verdict against it by the commission for combating commercial fraud. It will also have the right of appeal in the Court of Grievances within 30 days of receiving notification if the punishment involves a jail term. If the punishment, to be endorsed by the commerce minister, does not include imprisonment, the verdict will be considered final.
The amendments also stipulate constitution of a committee to study in detail the commission’s decision to slap fines on the accused. Assistant undersecretary for legal matters will submit the decision of the commission along with the committee’s findings and his remarks to the commerce minister for approval. The minister may either endorse the commission’s recommendations or send it back if he feels that the order contravenes related regulations or is not appropriate considering the seriousness of the alleged violation. Then the commission will re-examine its decision and rectify the shortcomings. The violator will be notified after obtaining the minister’s endorsement.
The period of prison term is to be determined by the Court of Grievances according to the new amendments, said Waleed Shira, a noted legal consultant. He said it was desirable to fix the minimum and maximum levels of fine the commission could impose. He also suggested referring imposition of fines to the courts in order to make them legal decisions which otherwise will be purely administrative.
Meanwhile, the commerce minister approved orders issued by the commission last week imposing fines on several Riyadh-based establishments which violated commercial regulations. An establishment which supplied food items not fit for consumption was fined SR100,000 while another charged with supplying foodstuffs with no indication of the country of origin was ordered to pay SR50,000.
