Saudi Arabia: Riyadh petrol station caught watering down fuel

Abu Dhabi: The Saudi Ministry of Commerce has named and shamed the owner of a Riyadh petrol station, Saudi citizen Fahd bin Saud Al Dossary, after he was found guilty of mixing 95 gasoline with water.

A court ruling was issued condemning him for violating the anti-commercial fraud laws and selling fuel that did not meet the required standards, local media reported.

The ministry published a summary of the ruling issued by the Criminal Court in Riyadh against Ful Al Ful Petrol Station, which includes imposing a fine on the owner of the facility, closing it for a week and defaming him by publishing the rulings in two local newspaper at his expense.

Last week, the authorities named and shamed another owner of an Ahasa petrol station in the eastern province for mixing 91 fuel with diesel.

The ministry had received scores of complaints against fuel stations, samples of gasoline were taken for examination in specialised laboratories, and it was found that it had been mixed with diesel or water.

It has ordered the facilities to repair the damaged vehicles after scores of complaints were received from owners.

The ministry has intensified inspections of fuel stations across Saudi Arabia to protect consumers, stop violations of the anti-commercial fraud system, and apply legal penalties.

The rules provide for penalties of up to three years in prison, fines of up to one million riyals, or both, defamation of violators at their expense, and deporting the violaters to their countries.

The ministry has urged all consumers to submit their complaints against violating businesses through its app, by phone, or via its website.