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Article 25 of the Saudi Anti-Fraud Law

المادة 25 من نظام مكافحة الغش التجاري · الفصل الرابع: العقوبات

Amended (1439 AH)

The Article requires a summary of a prison judgment under the Law to be published at the offender's expense, allows publication for other penalties, in a way the court sets once the judgment is final.

Official text after amendments (Arabic)

Compiled from the original text and every officially published amendment; the amendments are shown in full below for comparison.

تضمَّن المحكمة المختصة حكمها - الصادر بعقوبة السجن في إحدى المخالفات المنصوص عليها في المواد السابقة - النص على نشر ملخصه على نفقة المخالف، وللمحكمة المختصة النشر فيما عدا عقوبة السجن، وتحدد المحكمة طريقة النشر إما في إحدى الصحف المحلية أو في أي وسيلة أخرى مناسبة، وذلك بحسب نوع المخالفة المرتكبة وجسامتها وتأثيرها، على أن يكون النش بعد اكتساب الحكم الصفة النهائية

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 25 explained in plain English

This Article regulates the publication of judgments issued for violations of the Law, which is a form of public naming. Its provisions:

  • Mandatory publication: if the judgment imposes a prison sentence for one of the violations, the competent court must include in its judgment a provision for publishing a summary of it at the offender's expense.
  • Discretionary publication: where the penalty is not imprisonment, such as a fine alone, the court may decide on publication at its discretion.
  • Method of publication: the court sets it, either in a local newspaper or in any other appropriate means, according to the type, seriousness and impact of the violation.
  • Timing of publication: it takes place after the judgment becomes final, so a judgment that can still be challenged is not published.

Publication is a moral penalty that affects a merchant's reputation, and it also serves as a warning to consumers. This Article was amended by Royal Decree No. (M/108) dated 27/10/1439 AH to take its current form.

It comes after Article 24 on increased penalties for repeat offenders, and before Article 26, which applies the penalties to partners and instigators. Anyone against whom a judgment that includes publication has been issued would do well to consult a lawyer who specializes in criminal cases about the means of challenge before the judgment becomes final.

Practical example

The owner of a water factory in Jeddah was sentenced to prison for a violation of the Law. The judgment must include publication of a summary of it at his expense, the court decides whether the publication is in a local newspaper or another appropriate means, and it is published only after the judgment becomes final.

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 25 of the Saudi Anti-Fraud Law

Is the name of a merchant convicted of fraud published?

A summary of a prison judgment must be published at the offender's expense, and the court may order publication where the penalty is not imprisonment.

When is a commercial fraud judgment published?

After the judgment becomes final.

Who pays the cost of publication?

The offender, as publication is at his expense.

Amendment history

  1. Royal Decree No. M/108 — 27/10/1439 AH

    Official amendment text (Arabic)

    - عُدلت هذه المادة وذلك بموجب المرسوم الملكي رقم (م/108) وتاريخ 1439/10/27هـ، لتكون بالنص الآتي:

    "تضمَّن المحكمة المختصة حكمها - الصادر بعقوبة السجن في إحدى المخالفات المنصوص عليها في المواد السابقة - النص على نشر ملخصه على نفقة المخالف، وللمحكمة المختصة النشر فيما عدا عقوبة السجن، وتحدد المحكمة طريقة النشر إما في إحدى الصحف المحلية أو في أي وسيلة أخرى مناسبة، وذلك بحسب نوع المخالفة المرتكبة وجسامتها وتأثيرها، على أن يكون النش بعد اكتساب الحكم الصفة النهائية".

Original text before the amendments (Arabic)

ينشر على نفقة المحكوم عليه ملخص الحكم النهائي بالإدانة في إحدى المخالفات المنصوص عليها في المواد السابقة في جريدتين يوميتين تصدر إحداهما في المنطقة التي وقعت فيها المخالفة أو أقرب منطقة لها.

All amendments to this law (Arabic) →

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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.