A recent ruling by the Riyadh Criminal Court has sentenced a Saudi citizen and an expatriate to 2.5 years in prison and fined them 100,000 Riyals each for their involvement in a business cover-up scheme, known as "Tasattur."

The Ministry of Commerce, as reported by the Saudi Press Agency, disclosed that the expatriate, identified as a Syrian national, received a two-year prison term, while the Saudi citizen was sentenced to six months behind bars.

In addition to the prison sentences, the court ordered the cancellation of the defendants' business licenses and registrations. Furthermore, any funds or proceeds derived from the cover-up scheme were seized and confiscated. Upon completion of their sentences and payment of fines, the Syrian national faces deportation from the Kingdom, while the Saudi citizen is banned from engaging in any business activity for the next five years.

The convicted individuals are also obligated to pay zakat, fees, and taxes, along with covering the expenses for publishing the verdict in local media outlets.

According to investigative findings, the Saudi citizen facilitated the Syrian national's involvement in a cover-up business within the Riyadh contracting industry, amounting to 2 million Saudi Riyals. Operating through the citizen's contracting firm, the expatriate engaged in contractual activities.