RIYADH: A total of 290 cases of violation of the Commercial Concealment Law were registered in the Kingdom last year, and the same have been referred to the Bureau for Investigation and Public Prosecution.

An official from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MCI) said the highest number of violations took place in Makkah with 83 cases, followed by the Eastern Region (58) and Riyadh (47).

Upon completion of inquiry by the Bureau of Investigation and Public Prosecution Authority, the official said, the cases will be referred to the Bureau of Grievances for final verdict. The penalties for such violations may reach up to two years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to SR1 million for each violator, while non-Saudis would be deported after the penalties. The MCI stressed that it would continue its inspection campaigns to combat violation of the law, and to respond to the complaints received from government agencies, individuals and residents.

This step came after the ministry named and defamed some parties that violated the law recently, and verdicts were issued by the Bureau of Grievances.

Article One of the Commercial Concealment Law stipulates that a non-Saudi may not, under any circumstances, engage or invest in any activity without a license under the Foreign Investment Law or under any other laws, regulations or decisions.

In applying this law, any person enabling a non-Saudi to invest or engage in any activity he is prohibited from investing or engaging in, shall be deemed to be committing an act of concealment, whether by way of using his name, license, commercial registration or by any other means.