The Minister of Economy and Trade, Amer Al-Bassat, reported that a file containing 29 different companies and destinations, including importers, distributors, owners of commercial establishments, and owners of electric generators, has been referred to the Financial Public Prosecution. The reason for this referral is due to committing serious violations related to price manipulation and making illegal gains during this critical period.
During a press conference attended by the Director General of the Ministry, Muhammad Abu Haider, and the Director of Consumer Protection, Tariq Younis, the Minister stated that the state will not tolerate any attempt to exploit the current conditions to monopolize goods or burden citizens with unnecessary additional burdens. He stressed that the ministry was forced to take this step after exhausting all administrative procedures and warnings. He pointed out that the referred file is supported by facts and arrest records proving repeated violations, and he left the matter to the judiciary to take the necessary measures.
Al-Bassat reviewed the volume of oversight work that had been carried out, noting that 2,300 field inspection visits had been conducted and 142 reports had been referred to the judiciary since the beginning of the war, while the total number of visits since the beginning of the year had reached 5,400 visits and 440 reports, with 326 complaints being addressed, through the efforts of a work team that included only about 70 inspectors.
The Minister also stressed the adoption of a plan to ensure the availability of goods and their uninterruption by activating the National Council for Price Policy in coordination with the relevant ministries, the port and customs. He stressed the continuation of oversight and accountability in cooperation with the security and judicial agencies, and concluded by saying: “The law is above all, and protecting the citizen is a red line.”
