The recently completed 21st elections for the board of the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) saw some candidates woo voters with cash, smartphones and other benefits, Arab News has discovered.

With no second round of voting scheduled, a few of the 49 candidates did everything in their power to get one of the 12 seats available for the next four years.

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry appoints six people onto the 18-member JCCI board of directors.

One candidate, who owns a hotel and banquet venue, offered voters significant discounts if they voted for him.

Other candidates, according to observers, offered smartphones and financial gifts worth more than SR5,000 for each vote.

One candidate even distributed numbers for a draw on a luxury car worth more than SR100,000, Arab News discovered.

Mustafa Sabri, one of the candidates who previously served as the secretary general of the chamber, said the new system had not curbed the practice of lobbying and buying votes.

He said the ministry would probably have to take a serious relook at the system to tackle this phenomenon. One candidate, who preferred anonymity, said this has become a widespread practice.

During Arab News’ visits earlier this week to the electoral headquarters opposite the JCCI building on Madinah Road, most voting occurred during the mornings and in the evenings until around 10 p.m. The lowest voter turnout was during the afternoon.

There appeared to be significant voting on tribal lines. There also seemed to be a poor turnout of business leaders and well-known businessmen. Candidates had also sent many of their mid-level employees to vote for them.