Article 6 of the Saudi Anti-Human Trafficking Law
المادة 6 من نظام مكافحة جرائم الاتجار بالأشخاص
The article punishes with imprisonment for up to 5 years, a fine of up to SAR 200,000, or both, anyone who incites false testimony or false evidence, or uses force to interfere with the work of officials enforcing the Law.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يعاقب بالسجن مدة لا تزيد على (خمس) سنوات، أو بغرامة لا تزيد على (مائتي ألف) ريال، أو بهما معا؛ كل ممن يأتي:
1 ـ من استخدم القوة البدنية أو التهديد أو الترهيب أو الحرمان من مزية مستحقة أو الوعد بمزية غير مستحقة أو عرضها أو منحها للتحريض على الإدلاء بشهادة زور ، أو للتدخل في الإدلاء بها، أو تقديم أدلة غير صحيحة تتعلق بارتكاب أي من الجرائم المنصوص عليها في هذا النظام .
2 ـ من استخدم القوة البدنية أو التهديد أو الترهيب للتدخل في ممارسة أي مسؤول قضائي- أو معني بإنفاذ النظام - لمهماته الرسمية فيما يتعلق بأي من الجرائم المنصوص عليها 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 6 explained in plain English
This article protects the course of justice in human trafficking cases. It punishes with imprisonment for a period not exceeding 5 years, or a fine not exceeding SAR 200,000, or both, anyone who commits one of two acts:
- Influencing testimony and evidence: using physical force, threats or intimidation, depriving a person of a benefit they are due, or promising them, offering them or giving them a benefit they are not due, in order to incite false testimony, interfere with the giving of testimony, or produce false evidence relating to any of the crimes of this Law.
- Interfering with the work of officials: using physical force, threats or intimidation to interfere with the performance by any judicial official, or any official concerned with enforcing the Law, of their official duties relating to any of the crimes of this Law.
Note that the first form is wider in its means, covering the lure of benefits as well as force and threats, while the second is limited to physical force, threats and intimidation. In both cases the act must relate to one of the crimes provided for in this Law.
Anyone who has been subjected to pressure of this kind, or who faces an accusation of it, would do well to consult a lawyer specializing in criminal cases.
Practical example
After a person accused of human trafficking was arrested, his relative offered a sum of money to one of the worker witnesses to change his statements before the investigating authority. Offering this benefit to incite false testimony falls within the first form in Article 6, and may be punished by imprisonment of up to 5 years, a fine of up to SAR 200,000, 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 6 of the Saudi Anti-Human Trafficking Law
What is the penalty for influencing witnesses in human trafficking cases?
Imprisonment for a period not exceeding 5 years, a fine not exceeding SAR 200,000, or both.
Is luring a witness with money to change their testimony punishable?
Yes. The article covers promising, offering or giving a benefit that is not due in order to incite false testimony, interfere with the giving of testimony or produce false evidence.
Is threatening an investigator or a security officer in a trafficking case a separate crime?
Yes. The article punishes anyone who uses physical force, threats or intimidation to interfere with the performance by a judicial official, or one concerned with enforcing the Law, of their official duties relating to the crimes of the Law.
More articles on Failure to Report and Obstructing Justice
- Article 7
The article punishes with imprisonment for up to two years, a fine of up to SAR 100,000, or both, anyone who knows of a trafficking crime or an attempt and does not report it at once, even if bound by professional secrecy.
يعاقب بالسجن مدة لا تزيد على (سنتين) أو بغرامة لا تزيد على (مائة ألف) ريال، أو بهما معا؛ كل من علم بارتكاب جريمة من الجرائم المنصوص عليها في هذا النظام، أو علم
- Article 9
The article punishes with imprisonment for up to 5 years, a fine of up to SAR 200,000, or both, anyone who possesses, conceals or disposes of proceeds of the Law's crimes, conceals an accomplice, or helps conceal the crime's traces.
يعاقب بالسجن مدة لا تزيد على (خمس) سنوات، أو بغرامة لا تزيد على (مائتي ألف) ريال، أو بهما معا ؛ كل من حاز أشياء متحصلة من إحدى الجرائم المنصوص عليها في هذا النظ
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.