Article 15 of the Saudi Anti-Bribery Law
المادة 15 من نظام مكافحة الرشوة
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.
Official text after amendments (Arabic)
Compiled from the original text and every officially published amendment; the amendments are shown in full below for comparison.
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 من ذلك المال أو الميزة أو الفائدة.
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 15 explained in plain English
This article provides for the penalty of confiscation against anyone convicted of a bribery offense, the purpose being that no one keeps any gain resulting from the offense. Confiscation covers three things:
- The subject of the offense itself: the money, advantage or benefit that was the subject of the bribe, where confiscating it is possible.
- The value in place of the item: confiscating the value of that money, advantage or benefit as the case may be, for example where the advantage cannot be confiscated in itself.
- Proceeds: confiscating any proceeds resulting from that money, advantage or benefit, such as profits or what was bought with it.
The text uses the wording "shall be sentenced," meaning confiscation is adjudged against the person whose conviction is established, and the article does not describe confiscation as a principal or subsidiary penalty. Article 14, for its part, deals with reconsidering subsidiary penalties by decision of the Minister of Interior after five years from the date the execution of the principal penalty ends.
Note that Article 16 exempts the briber or intermediary from the principal and subsidiary penalties if he informs the authorities of the offense before it is discovered.
This wording was issued by Royal Decree No. M/38 dated 27/4/1443 AH. To assess a particular situation it is advisable to consult a lawyer specializing in criminal matters.
Practical example
A public employee received a sum of money as a bribe, then invested it in buying shares that made profits. On his conviction, confiscation of the bribe amount or its value is adjudged, as well as confiscation of the profits that resulted from it as proceeds of the bribe money.
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 15 of the Saudi Anti-Bribery Law
Is bribe money confiscated after conviction?
Yes. A person whose conviction is established is sentenced to confiscation of the money, advantage or benefit that was the subject of the offense where that is possible.
What if the bribe money no longer exists?
The article provides for confiscating its value as the case may be.
Does confiscation include the profits of the bribe money?
Yes. Confiscation includes any proceeds resulting from that money, advantage or benefit.
Amendment history
Royal Decree No. M/38 — 27/4/1443 AH
Official amendment text (Arabic)
- عُدلت هذه المادة وذلك بموجب المرسوم الملكي رقم (م/38) وتاريخ 1443/4/27هـ. لتكون بالنص الآتي: "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 من ذلك المال أو الميزة أو الفائدة".
Original text before the amendments (Arabic)
يحكم في جميع الأحوال بمصادرة المال أو الميزة أو الفائدة موضوع الجريمة متى كان ذلك ممكنا عملا.
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 14Amended (1442 AH)
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.
يُصدر وزير الداخلية -بناءً على توصية لجنة تكون من (وزارة الداخلية، ووزارة الموارد البشرية والتنمية الاجتماعية، وهيئة الرقابة ومكافحة الفساد) -قراراً بإعادة النظ
- 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.