Fuel pump staff face SR30,000 fine each for selling to hoarders

Saudi Civil Defence has announced stiff fines on fuel stations that sold petrol to hoarders in plastic cans.

A Civil Defence statement said that each fuel station staff who sold petrol to hoarders will be fined SR30,000. In addition to this, managers of these fuel stations will be charged and sued.

This decision was made after the spread of pictures and videos on social media of fuel stations selling petro to Saudi and expatriate hoarders.

On Monday, Saudi Cabinet announced increase in fuel prices in the Kingdome by more than 50 per cent.

After the announcement, fuel stations in the Kingdom saw huge crowds. Pictures and videos went viral on social media which showed people rushing to buy fuel before the new prices came into effect at 12 midnight on Monday.

This news went viral on social media. Some people said that it is better to impose these fine as it will prevent others from breaking the laws in future.

Mohammed, a Saudi, said  the videos of the crowds were horrible. “No safety rules were followed that night. These people put themselves and others at risk by selling petrol in this way. Fuel should only be filled into vehicles, not sold in plastic cans.”

 Abdul Aziz, another Saudi, said  the decision to raise fuel prices and the selling ban were announced at the same time.

“They should first clearly mention the list of punishments. For example, petrol stations which sell fuels will be fined so much, petrol stations which sell fuels after  ban hours will be fined so much, and so on.”