Article 12 of the Saudi Anti-Fraud Law
المادة 12 من نظام مكافحة الغش التجاري · الفصل الثالث: الضبط والتحقيق والمحاكمة
The article makes investigation and public prosecution of violations of the Anti-Commercial Fraud Law the competence of the Bureau of Investigation and Public Prosecution.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تختص هيئة التحقيق والادعاء العام بالتحقيق والادعاء العام في المخالفات الواردة في هذا النظام.
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 12 explained in plain English
This article specifies the body that handles the second stage of a case's course after seizure. The Law divides the work into stages:
- Seizure and establishing the violation: handled by the judicial police officers referred to in Article 5.
- Investigation and prosecution: the subject of this article, which provides that the Bureau of Investigation and Public Prosecution is competent for investigation and public prosecution in the violations in the Law.
- Adjudicating the case: handled by the competent court under Article 13.
Investigation means gathering evidence, questioning the accused and hearing witnesses to assess whether the violation is established. Public prosecution means bringing the case before the court and demanding punishment of the violator on behalf of society.
It follows that violations of this Law are not merely administrative violations dealt with inside the Ministry, but pass through a criminal investigation and prosecution before the courts, which fits the penalties in the Law, including imprisonment.
Anyone summoned for investigation in a commercial fraud case would do well to engage a lawyer specialized in criminal cases to attend the investigation with him and set out his rights.
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 12 of the Saudi Anti-Fraud Law
Who investigates commercial fraud cases?
The article provides that the Bureau of Investigation and Public Prosecution is competent for investigation and public prosecution in violations of this Law.
Who brings the case against the violator before the court?
Public prosecution in these violations is the competence of the Bureau of Investigation and Public Prosecution, according to the article.
Who adjudicates commercial fraud cases?
The competent court, under Article 13 of the Law.
More articles on Investigation, Prosecution and Liability
- Article 13Amended (1440 AH)
The article makes the competent court the body that adjudicates all violations of the Law, its disputes and compensation claims arising from its application.
تتولى المحكمة المختصة الفصل في جميع المخالفات والمنازعات ودعاوى المطالبة بالتعويض الناشئة من تطبيق أحكام هذا النظام
- Article 14
The article presumes that every violator knew the product was adulterated, and provides that the buyer's knowledge of the fraud does not prevent punishing the violator.
يفترض في كل من ارتكب مخالفة لأحكام هذا النظام العلم بغش المنتج، ولا يمنع علم المشتري بذلك من تطبيق العقوبة المقررة بحق المخالف.
- Article 15
The article makes the seller, those who market the product on whose behalf, and the managers of companies, associations, establishments and shops liable for the Law's violations, unless one proves the violation occurred for a reason beyond his control.
يكون البائع، ومن يصرف المنتج لحسابه، ومديرو الشركات والجمعيات والمؤسسات والمحلات، مسئولين عن كل ما يقع من مخالفات لأحكام هذا النظام، وتوقع على كل منهم العقوبات
- Article 23Amended by M/109
The Article allows the Public Prosecution to request a travel ban until the final judgment, and the Ministry of Interior to deport a non-Saudi finally convicted of an Article 2 violation.
1- للنيابة العامة أن تطلب منع سفر من يثبت التحقيق ارتكابه مخالفة لأحكام النظام إلى أن يصدر الحكم النهائي في القضية. 2- لوزارة الداخلية، إذا صدر حكم نهائي بإدانة
- Article 26
The penalties in the Anti-Commercial Fraud Law apply to anyone who took part in committing the violation or incited it.
تسري العقوبات المنصوص عليها في هذا النظام على كل من شارك في ارتكاب المخالفة، أو حرض على ارتكابها.
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.