Article 11 of the Saudi Anti-Bribery Law
المادة 11 من نظام مكافحة الرشوة
The article punishes anyone appointed by the bribe-taker or briber to take the bribe who accepted that knowing the reason, with up to two years' imprisonment and a fine of up to SAR 50,000, or either.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
كل شخص عينه المرتشي أو الراشي لأخذ الرشوة وقبل ذلك مع علمه بالسبب، يعاقب بالسجن مدة لا تتجاوز سنتين وبغرامة لا تزيد عن خمسين ألف ريال أو بإحدى هاتين العقوبتين.
This is the official Arabic wording, the only legally binding version. We do not translate the law itself; the explanation below is ours. Official source: Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers
Article 11 explained in plain English
This article deals with the role of a person who is used as a go-between to receive the bribe, for example where the bribe-taking employee asks a relative or friend to receive the sum on his behalf, or the briber assigns someone to hand it over or receive it.
Conditions of its application as stated in the text:
- The person was appointed by the bribe-taker or briber to take the bribe.
- He accepted that.
- He knew the reason, that is, he knew that what he was taking was a bribe.
Knowledge is an essential condition in this article; the text punishes whoever accepted that while knowing the reason.
The penalty: imprisonment for a period not exceeding two years and a fine not exceeding SAR 50,000, or either of these penalties.
This article follows Article 10, which punishes the briber, the intermediary and every participant with the penalty of the article that criminalizes the act, and treats as a participant anyone who agreed, incited or helped in committing the offense knowingly, where it was committed on that basis. Article 12 makes clear that the promise or gift includes every benefit or advantage, material or non-material, of whatever type or name.
If you are asked to receive a sum or something for the benefit of another in circumstances that raise suspicion, it is wise to consult a lawyer specializing in criminal matters.
Practical example
A government employee in Makkah asked his brother to receive a sum from a contractor after agreeing with him to facilitate a matter in his work, and the brother received the sum knowing it was a bribe. Under this article the brother is punished by imprisonment of up to two years and a fine of up to SAR 50,000, or either.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
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Frequently asked questions about Article 11 of the Saudi Anti-Bribery Law
What is the penalty for someone who receives the bribe on behalf of the employee?
If the bribe-taker or briber appointed him to take the bribe and he accepted that knowing the reason, he is punished by imprisonment of up to two years and a fine of up to SAR 50,000, or either.
Is the recipient punished if he did not know the money was a bribe?
The article requires, for punishing him, that he accepted taking the bribe while knowing the reason.
Does the article also cover someone appointed by the briber?
Yes. The text covers any person appointed by the bribe-taker or the briber to take the bribe.
More articles on Briber, Intermediary and Offering a Bribe
- Article 6
The article punishes a public employee who takes a promise or gift because of his job to follow up a government transaction, and the giver and the intermediary, with up to two years' imprisonment and a fine of up to SAR 50,000, or either.
كل موظف عام طلب لنفسه أو لغيره أو قبل أو أخذ وعدا أو عطية بسبب وظيفته لمتابعة معاملة في جهة حكومية ولم تنطبق عليه النصوص الأخرى في هذا النظام، يعاقب بالسجن مدة
- Article 10
The article punishes the briber, the intermediary and every participant in the Law's offenses with the penalty of the article that criminalizes the act, and treats as a participant anyone who agreed, incited or helped knowingly.
يعاقب الراشي والوسيط وكل من اشترك في إحدى الجرائم الواردة في هذا النظام بالعقوبة المنصوص عليها في المادة التي تجرمها، ويعتبر شريكا في الجريمة كل من اتفق أو حرض
The texts are reproduced from the official website of the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers for reference; where they differ, the officially published Arabic text prevails. This content is not legal advice.