The Ministry of Justice has forced several businesspeople to pay their outstanding debts worth SR14.7 billion over the past five months.

Khaled Al-Dawood, the ministry's undersecretary for confiscation and execution, said his department had taken firm action against these businesspeople, who had resorted to delaying tactics in paying off their loans and other debt.

The department had collected the money since Nov. 4 last year. It had taken action based on court orders, royal orders, checks, bills of payment and other valid paperwork, Al-Dawood said.

He said the department acted on decisions made by competent committees and under contractual agreements.

He said the department, which has the powers of a court, takes action only when an eligible party files a complaint that the indebted party has not made a payment ordered by a court or other competent authority within a specified period.

Al-Dawood said a debtor has to pay up within five days after receiving a notification from the department. In the meantime, a judge stops the debtor from leaving the country, or freezes his bank account with the help of the Passport Department and the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency.

The department also has the right to seize and auction a debtor's properties and possessions. If his belongings are not worth the debt amount, he would be jailed until he pays it.