Article 14 of the Saudi Anti-Bribery Law
المادة 14 من نظام مكافحة الرشوة
The article provides that the Minister of Interior, on the recommendation of a three-body committee, may issue a decision to reconsider the subsidiary penalties after five years from the end of the principal penalty.
Official text after amendments (Arabic)
Compiled from the original text and every officially published amendment; the amendments are shown in full below for comparison.
يُصدر وزير الداخلية -بناءً على توصية لجنة تكون من (وزارة الداخلية، ووزارة الموارد البشرية والتنمية الاجتماعية، وهيئة الرقابة ومكافحة الفساد) -قراراً بإعادة النظر في العقبات التبعية بعد مضي خمس سنوات من تاريخ انتهاء تنفيذ العقوبة الأصلية، ويعتمد وزير الداخلية آلية وقواعد عمل اللجنة
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 14 explained in plain English
This article deals with the subsidiary penalties that attach to a person convicted of bribery offenses, which are the penalties that follow the judgment of conviction alongside the principal penalty (imprisonment or fine). An example is what Article 13 provides: removal of the public employee or his equivalent from his job and disqualification from holding public office. (The official text contains a typographical slip in this word; what is meant is the subsidiary penalties.)
The article sets a mechanism for reconsidering these penalties as follows:
- The body that issues the decision: the Minister of Interior.
- The basis: the recommendation of a committee made up of the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, and the Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority.
- The timing: after five years have passed from the date the execution of the principal penalty ends, not from the date of the judgment.
- The committee's work: the Minister of Interior approves the committee's mechanism and rules of work.
The article does not provide for lifting the subsidiary penalty automatically with the passage of time, but makes it a matter of reconsideration that ends in a decision by the Minister on the committee's recommendation. The article does not state the committee's criteria or the conditions for accepting reconsideration, which are left to the mechanism and rules approved by the Minister of Interior.
This wording was issued by Royal Decree No. M/21 dated 14/2/1442 AH. Anyone in a position connected with this article would do best to consult a lawyer specializing in criminal matters.
Practical example
A government employee was convicted of a bribery offense, was removed from his job and served the prison sentence imposed. After five years have passed from the date the execution of the prison sentence ends, the subsidiary penalty resulting from his conviction can be reconsidered, by decision of the Minister of Interior on the recommendation of the committee formed under this article.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
How we write and review contentA question about Article 14 of Anti-Bribery Law?
Describe what happened and specialist lawyers answer. You can write in English.
- Completely free
- Lawyers from the directory answer
- Your name stays hidden
Criminal Law lawyers: ask a specialist about your case
Describe your situation briefly and we'll suggest a lawyer who specialises in this law
Criminal Law lawyers
Lawyers who handle this kind of case
شركة امتداد النظام للمحاماة والاستشارات المهنية
- Labour & Employment Law
- Criminal Law
- Criminal Law
- Commercial & Corporate Law
Frequently asked questions about Article 14 of the Saudi Anti-Bribery Law
When can the subsidiary penalty in bribery offenses be reconsidered?
After five years have passed from the date the execution of the principal penalty ends, under Article 14.
Who issues the decision to reconsider subsidiary penalties?
The Minister of Interior, on the recommendation of a committee made up of the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, and the Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority.
Is the subsidiary penalty lifted automatically after five years?
The article does not provide for that, but makes it a matter of reconsideration by decision of the Minister of Interior on the committee's recommendation.
Amendment history
Royal Decree No. M/21 — 14/2/1442 AH
Official amendment text (Arabic)
- عُّدلت هذه المادة وذلك بموجب المرسوم الملكي رقم (م/21) وتاريخ 1442/2/14هـ، لتكون بالنص الآتي: "يُصدر وزير الداخلية -بناءً على توصية لجنة تكون من (وزارة الداخلية، ووزارة الموارد البشرية والتنمية الاجتماعية، وهيئة الرقابة ومكافحة الفساد) -قراراً بإعادة النظر في العقبات التبعية بعد مضي خمس سنوات من تاريخ انتهاء تنفيذ العقوبة الأصلية، ويعتمد وزير الداخلية آلية وقواعد عمل اللجنة"
Original text before the amendments (Arabic)
لمجلس الوزراء إعادة النظر في العقوبة التبعية بعد مضي خمس سنوات من تاريخ انتهاء تنفيذ العقوبة الأصلية.
More articles on Removal, Confiscation and Ancillary Penalties
- Article 13
The article attaches to the conviction of a public employee or his equivalent for an offense under the Law removal from public office and disqualification from public posts and the work treated as equivalent to it.
يترتب على الحكم بإدانة موظف عام أو من في حكمه بارتكاب إحدى الجرائم المنصوص عليها في هذا النظام العزل من الوظيفة العامة وحرمانه من تولي الوظائف العامة أو القيام
- Article 15Amended by M/38
The article requires that anyone convicted of bribery be sentenced to confiscation of the money, advantage or benefit that was the subject of the offense, or its value, and any proceeds resulting from it.
يحكم على من تثبت إدانته في جريمة الرشوة بمصادرة المال أو الميزة أو الفائدة محل الجريمة متى كان ذلك ممكناً، أو مصادرة قيمته بحسب الأحوال، ومصادرة أي عائدات ترتبت
- Article 18
The article treats as a repeat offender a person convicted of a bribery offense who commits another within five years of the end of the penalty, and allows a sentence above the maximum but not more than double it.
يعتبر عائدا من حكم بإدانته في جريمة من الجرائم المنصوص عليها في هذا النظام إذا ثبت ارتكابه جريمة أخرى وفقا لأحكامه قبل مضي خمس سنوات من تاريخ انقضاء العقوبة، وف
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.