Article 23 of the Saudi Anti-Fraud Law
المادة 23 من نظام مكافحة الغش التجاري · الفصل الرابع: العقوبات
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.
Official text after amendments (Arabic)
Compiled from the original text and every officially published amendment; the amendments are shown in full below for comparison.
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 غير السعودي بارتكابه أياً من المخالفات المنصوص عليها في المادة (الثانية) من النظام، إبعاده من المملكة ومنعه من دخولها، وذلك وفقاً لضوابط تضعها وزارة الداخلية والوزارة ووزارة الاستثمار.
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 23 explained in plain English
This Article contains two different measures:
First: travel ban (paragraph 1).
- The Public Prosecution may request a travel ban against anyone whom the investigation shows to have committed a violation of the Law.
- The condition is that the investigation shows the violation was committed; a mere report is not enough.
- Its duration: until the final judgment is issued in the case.
Second: deportation of a non-Saudi (paragraph 2).
- The Ministry of Interior may deport a non-Saudi from the Kingdom and bar him from entering it.
- The condition is a final judgment convicting him of one of the violations set out specifically in Article 2, which include deception about the product, adulterating it, and selling, possessing for trade or importing an adulterated product.
- This is done under rules set by the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry and the Ministry of Investment.
The wording "the Ministry of Interior may" shows that deportation is a discretionary power, not an automatic consequence. This Article was amended by Royal Decree No. (M/109) dated 26/12/1442 AH to take its current form.
It comes after Article 22 on withdrawing the adulterated product and refunding its value, and before Article 24 on increased penalties for repeat offenders. Anyone facing a travel ban or the risk of deportation would do well to consult a lawyer who specializes in criminal cases.
Practical example
A resident who runs a phone shop in Jeddah has been finally convicted of selling adulterated devices. The Ministry of Interior may deport him from the Kingdom and bar him from entering it under the established rules, and before that the Public Prosecution could have requested a travel ban against him until the final judgment.
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 23 of the Saudi Anti-Fraud Law
Can a merchant be banned from traveling in a commercial fraud case?
The Public Prosecution may request a travel ban against anyone the investigation shows to have committed a violation of the Law, until the final judgment is issued.
Is a resident convicted of commercial fraud deported?
The Ministry of Interior may deport a non-Saudi who has been finally convicted of one of the Article 2 violations and bar him from entering the Kingdom, under specified rules.
Who sets the rules for deportation?
The Ministry of Interior, the Ministry and the Ministry of Investment.
Amendment history
Royal Decree No. M/109 — 26/12/1442 AH
Official amendment text (Arabic)
- عُدلت هذه المادة وذلك بموجب المرسوم الملكي رقم (م/109) وتاريخ 1442/12/26هـ، لتكون بالنص الآتي:
" 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 غير السعودي بارتكابه أياً من المخالفات المنصوص عليها في المادة (الثانية) من النظام، إبعاده من المملكة ومنعه من دخولها، وذلك وفقاً لضوابط تضعها وزارة الداخلية والوزارة ووزارة الاستثمار".
Original text before the amendments (Arabic)
لهيئة التحقيق والادعاء العام أن تطلب منع سفر من يثبت التحقيق ارتكابه مخالفة لأحكام هذا النظام إلى أن يصدر الحكم النهائي في القضية، فإذا صدر الحكم بالإدانة تقضي الجهة المختصة بإبعاد الأجنبي عن المملكة بعد تنفيذ الحكم، ولا يسمح بعودته إليها للعمل بعد ذلك.
Articles this article refers to
More articles on Investigation, Prosecution and Liability
- Article 12
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.
تختص هيئة التحقيق والادعاء العام بالتحقيق والادعاء العام في المخالفات الواردة في هذا النظام.
- 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 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.