BURAIDAH — A potable water bottling plant and its owner were named and shamed by the Ministry of Commerce here after they were found guilty of violating the Anti-Commercial Fraud law. The plant in Al-Badayea Governorate in Al-Qassim region was found to be using bromate in water far exceeding the permitted quantities. The ministry published a summary of the judicial ruling issued by the Criminal Court in Buraidah against the facility and its director. The ruling included a fine, closure of the plant for six months, and defamation by publishing the verdict in two newspapers at the expense of the violators. The ministry reiterated that it would continue addressing those violating the Anti-Commercial Fraud law by taking stern measures and imposing legal penalties against them. The law stipulates penalties that may reach to three-year imprisonment, fines up to one million riyals or both, defamation in two local newspapers at the expense of the violator, deportation of the illegal laborers from the Kingdom, besides suspension and prevention of practicing the same commercial activity. The ministry urged all consumers to lodge their complaints or observations through MC Consumer Call Center (1900), or through the application of a Commercial Violation Report, or via the ministry's website.
