In a significant move to combat commercial cover-up (tasattur), the Riyadh Criminal Court has handed down a verdict sentencing a Saudi citizen and a Syrian national to a total of two and a half years in prison and imposing a SR100,000 fine. The Ministry of Commerce disclosed this development in a statement relayed by the Saudi Press Agency.

According to the statement, the Saudi citizen received a six-month prison term, while the Syrian national was sentenced to two years of imprisonment. Additionally, the court ordered the seizure and confiscation of all funds and proceeds derived from the concealment offense, along with the cancellation of the commercial register and license associated with the illicit activity. Upon completion of the jail term and payment of the fine, the Syrian national will face deportation, and the Saudi citizen will be barred from engaging in commercial activities for a five-year period.

Furthermore, the convicted individuals are liable to pay zakat, fees, and taxes, with the verdict mandated to be published in local newspapers at their own expense.

Investigations revealed that the Saudi citizen facilitated the Syrian resident's involvement in cover-up business, amounting to SR2 million in the contracting sector in Riyadh. This illicit arrangement allowed the Syrian national to conduct contracting activities through a firm owned by the Saudi citizen.