RIYADH: A court here has fined an automobile company for selling a customer an old car, falsely claiming that it was new, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry announced Monday.

The court would decide later what the fine would be for breaking the country’s laws against cheating, an official from the ministry said. The name of the company would be published in local newspapers, he said.

The official said that the ministry received a complaint from the citizen claiming that the rear bumper of his car had been repaired and re-painted by the agent without informing him.

Based on the complaint, the ministry launched an investigation and passed on the case to the courts. The ministry would not allow such fraudulent behavior, and would punish violators severely, he said.

According to the official, the ministry has found several automobile companies guilty of selling cars without informing customers of their history, including their age and whether they had been repaired. Legal action has been taken against these companies, he said.

The official said members of the public should report violations to the ministry on the number 1900.