Article 18 of the Saudi Anti-Fraud Law
المادة 18 من نظام مكافحة الغش التجاري · الفصل الرابع: العقوبات
The article raises the penalty to SAR 1 million, three years' imprisonment, or both, for deception using false scales, health-harming fraud, or violating Articles 3, 7 and 9.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يعاقب بغرامة لا تزيد على (1.000.000) مليون ريال، أو بالسجن مدة لا تزيد على ثلاث سنوات، أو بهما معًا – في الحالتين الآتيتين:
1- إذا اقترن فعل الخداع - أو الشروع فيه - باستعمال موازين أو مقاييس أو مكاييل أو دمغات أو آلات فحص أخرى مزيفة أو مختلفة، أو باستعمال طرق ووسائل من شأنها جعل عملية وزن المنتج أو قياسه أو كيله أو فحصه غير صحيحة. أو كان المنتج المغشوش أو المواد المستعملة في غشه مضرة بصحة الإنسان أو الحيوان.
2- إذا ارتكبت أي من المخالفات المنصوص عليها في المواد (الثالثة) و(السابعة) و(التاسعة) من 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 18 explained in plain English
This article sets the aggravated penalty in the Law: a fine of no more than SAR 1,000,000, or imprisonment of no more than three years, or both. It applies in two cases:
The first case: fraud accompanied by a serious circumstance, which has two forms:
- Where the deception or attempt to deceive is accompanied by the use of false or altered scales, measures, gauges, stamps or testing machines, or by methods and means that make the weight, measure, capacity or testing of the product incorrect.
- Or where the adulterated product or the materials used in adulterating it are harmful to human or animal health.
The second case: violating one of the following articles:
- Article 3: the producer, importer or distributor of an adulterated product he has circulated failing in the duty to notify the Ministry of its quantity and the names and addresses of the merchants to whom it was supplied.
- Article 7: the merchant dealing with the suspected product before the examination result clearing it appears.
- Article 9: preventing judicial police officers from inspecting, seizing, entering shops or taking samples.
It appears from this that the Law treats concealing information and obstructing oversight with the same severity it applies to health-harming fraud. These are upper limits within which the court sets the penalty. Article 19 follows, adding a fine on anyone who deals with held products, without prejudice to the penalties of this article.
Given the seriousness of these penalties, anyone facing an accusation under them would do well to engage a lawyer specialized in criminal cases.
Practical example
A vegetable seller in a market in Riyadh adjusted his scale to show a greater weight than the true one. This is deception about the quantity of the product accompanied by the use of a false scale, so his penalty may reach a fine of no more than SAR 1 million or imprisonment of no more than three years or both.
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 18 of the Saudi Anti-Fraud Law
What is the penalty for using a rigged scale?
If the deception is accompanied by the use of false scales or measures, the penalty is a fine of no more than SAR 1 million or imprisonment of no more than three years or both.
What is the penalty for selling an adulterated product that harms health?
The same penalty, if the adulterated product or the materials used in adulterating it are harmful to human or animal health.
What is the penalty for preventing commercial fraud inspectors from entering?
Violating Article 9 is among the cases to which this aggravated penalty applies.
Is a merchant punished if he sells the goods before the examination result?
Yes. A violation of Article 7 is covered by this penalty.
Articles this article refers to
- Article 3
The article requires the producer, importer or distributor of an adulterated product he has circulated to notify the Ministry of its quantity and the names and addresses of the merchants supplied, immediately on learning of it, being notified, or the seizure report.
يلتزم كل من (المنتج والمستورد والموزع) لمنتج مغشوش إذا صرّفه؛ بإبلاغ الوزارة بالمعلومات التي تتعلق بكميته وأسماء التجار الذين صرف إليهم هذا المنتج وعناوينهم، وذ
- Article 7
The article bars the merchant from dealing with the suspected product before the examination result clearing it appears.
يحظر على التاجر التصرف في المنتج المشتبه به قبل ظهور نتيجة الفحص بإجازته.
- Article 9
The article prohibits preventing judicial police officers from inspecting, seizing, entering premises and taking samples, requires them to prove their status, and allows them to close the shop until the merchant lets them in.
يحظر منع مأموري الضبط القضائي من تأدية أعمال وظائفهم في التفتيش والضبط، ودخول المصانع أو المخازن أو المتاجر أو غيرها من المحلات، أو الحصول على عينات من المنتجات
More articles on Penalties for Commercial Fraud
- Article 16
The article punishes anyone who commits one of the Article 2 violations with a fine of no more than SAR 500,000, or imprisonment of no more than two years, or both.
يعاقب بغرامة لا تزيد على خمسمائة ألف ريال، أو السجن مدة لا تزيد على سنتين، أو بهما معًا، كل من ارتكب إحدى المخالفات المنصوص عليها في المادة (الثانية) من هذا الن
- Article 17
The article punishes anyone who runs price reductions or commercial contests without a Ministry license with a fine of no more than SAR 50,000, or imprisonment of up to six months, or both.
يعاقب بغرامة لا تزيد على خمسين ألف ريال، أو السجن مدة لا تزيد على ستة أشهر، أو بهما معًا كل من ارتكب المخالفة المنصوص عليها في المادة (الرابعة).
- Article 19
The article punishes anyone who deals with held products with a fine equal to their value, without prejudice to the penalties provided for in Article 18.
مع عدم الإخلال بالعقوبات المنصوص عليها في المادة (الثامنة عشرة) من هذا النظام يعاقب من يتصرف بمنتجات محجوزة بغرامة تعادل قيمتها.
- Article 20
The Article allows the court to order the offending shop closed for up to one year for the Article 2 violations, in addition to the other penalties in the Law.
مع عدم الإخلال بالعقوبات المنصوص عليها في هذا النظام، يجوز الحكم بإغلاق المحل المخالف مدة لا تتجاوز سنة في المخالفات المنصوص عليها في المادة (الثانية) من هذا ال
- Article 21
The Article provides that once a product is proven adulterated it is destroyed or disposed of appropriately and the tools used in the fraud are confiscated, with the Regulations setting how.
يترتب –في جميع الأحوال– على ثبوت غش المنتج إتلافه أو التصرف فيه بأي طريقة مناسبة، ومصادرة الأدوات التي استعملت في الغش أو الخداع. وتبين اللائحة كيفية التصرف فيه
- Article 24
The Article doubles the maximum penalty for a repeat violation within five years of the final judgment, and adds a ban from commercial activity of up to five years for a further repeat.
إذا عاد المخالف إلى ارتكاب أي من المخالفات المنصوص عليها في هذا النظام خلال خمس سنوات من تاريخ صدور الحكم نهائيًّا، يعاقب بعقوبة لا تزيد على ضعف الحد الأعلى للع
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.