RIYADH: Two warehouses containing 4,000 auto spare parts, run by expatriates, were shut down by authorities for violating the commercial concealment regulations.

Inspectors from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry detected evidence and a number of documents to show that the stores were managed by expatriates under the name and concealment of a citizen.

The owner and the workers were summoned by the ministry for investigation to take legal proceedings. The case will then be referred to the Bureau of Investigation and Public Prosecution, and after that to the Bureau of Grievances to issue a final judgment.

The two warehouses were located in Al-Faisaliah district in Riyadh and the properties were under the name of the Saudi sponsors who had given full rights and privileges, including bank accounts, to be managed by the expatriates.

The inspection, conducted in cooperation with security authorities, found a large sum of cash in addition to official stamps bearing the signature of the owner and other documents.

The ministry said it aims to get rid of the phenomenon of commercial concealment and create a trading environment free of irregularities and violations to enable citizens to conduct their business safely.

Under this law, the offender is liable to two years of imprisonment and a maximum fine of SR1 million, as well as deportation if the offender is an expatriate.

It is expected that the citizen associated with the expatriate’s illegal activities will be blacklisted by the ministry, with his name published in the daily newspapers. The business registration in question will be canceled for a period of five years.

In light of the issue, the ministry recently released a statement warning all companies, commercial institutions and individuals not to cooperate with violators of commercial rules and regulations in the Kingdom, as such violations will invariably lead to serious legal and statutory penalties.

The ministry has also urged all citizens to report cases of commercial concealment, with relevant evidence, to authorities, adding that there is an opportunity for them to be rewarded for their honesty in the form of cash amounting to a maximum of 30 percent of the fines imposed on the violators.

Informants can dial the ministry’s toll free number, 1900, or contact the concerned department of the ministry by fax or e-mail.