Background

A shipment of mobile phones was stopped by the customs Department on behalf of a company. Upon inspection, it was found that among the 790 units, 400 mobiles had a different origin than the one declared. The case was referred to the First Instance customs committee because they were suspected to be fake and counterfeited.

The Committee issued a ruling convicting the owner of the company of initiating smuggling, confiscated the infringing mobiles and compelled the merchant to pay a fine equivalent to 10% of the value of the 400 mobiles.

The owner of the company filed an appeal but did not include arguments that would undermine the ruling's regularity. The case was referred to Jeddah Customs Appeals Committee.

Although the appellant was informed, he had neither attended nor provided substantive grounds to oppose the appealed ruling.

The Committee upheld the appealed ruling.