LEGAL

Saudi Arabia Commerce Ministry shames fast food joint for fake promo

Reuters Images/Faisal Al Nasser
Reuters Images/Faisal Al Nasser
Reuters Images/Faisal Al Nasser
The court imposed a fine on the restaurant violating the Anti-Commercial Fraud Law
PHOTO

RIYADH — The Ministry of Commerce and Investment has defamed a fast food restaurant in Riyadh after a ruling issued by the Criminal Court that found the restaurant guilty of violating the Anti-Commercial Fraud Law. The restaurant also failed to comply with the terms and conditions for discounts and promotions.

The court imposed a fine on the restaurant and ordered the verdict published in two local newspapers at the expense of the violator.

The case against the restaurant was filed after the ministry›s inspection teams received a tip-off about violations there. After necessary investigations, the team found that the restaurant had placed an advertisement saying, «Buy a Burger and Get the Second One Free», but it has been revealed that this advertisement was old and unlicensed.

Those responsible in the restaurant acknowledged that it was old and had already expired, but they did not remove it in order to mislead the customers. This was tantamount to deception and a violation of the Anti-Commercial Fraud Law, the investigators said.

The ministry has provided e-service for issuing permits for sales promotions. This was part of the ministry›s keenness and interest to verify the reality of discounts and promotions, as well as to ensure that there is no attempt manipulate or mislead the consumers, the ministry said in a statement posted on its website.

Meanwhile, the ministry defamed the owner of a workshop in Makkah by publishing his name in local newspapers. The move followed a court ruling that found the workshop guilty of selling worn-out or expired car tires.

The workshop located in Al-Haj Street also sold lubricants that did not conform to Saudi standards and specifications.

The sentence issued by the Criminal Court in Makkah included a fine, closure of the workshop for 15 days and defamation by publishing the sentence in two local newspapers at the expense of the violator.

Earlier, the ministry›s inspectors had seized large quantities of the lubricant and expired tires from the workshop, which were destroyed at the expense of the owner. The case was then referred to the court for legal measures against him.

The ministry vowed to take stern measures against anyone found violating the Anti-Commercial Fraud Law. The Anti-Commercial Fraud Law stipulates severe penalties for violators including imprisonment of up to three years, a fine of up to SR1 million and defamation in two local newspapers, in addition to preventing the violator from practicing the same commercial activity in the future. Any illegal foreign labor employed by the violators will be deported from the Kingdom.

The ministry asked all consumers to lodge complaints or observations by calling its Consumer Call Center at 1900, or through the app Commercial Violation Report, or via its official website.

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