Article 8 of the Saudi Anti-Human Trafficking Law
المادة 8 من نظام مكافحة جرائم الاتجار بالأشخاص
The article provides that anyone who contributes to the crime of human trafficking, and anyone who takes part in the crimes in Articles 2, 4 and 6, is punished with the perpetrator's penalty.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يعاقب بعقوبة الفاعل، كل من ساهم في جريمة الاتجار بالأشخاص ، وكل من تدخل في أي من الجرائم المنصوص عليها في المواد: (الثانية) و(الرابعة) و(السادسة) 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 8 explained in plain English
This article deals with someone who does not commit the crime themselves but takes part in it, and provides that they are punished with the perpetrator's penalty, meaning the same penalty set for the person who committed the crime.
The article covers two categories:
- Anyone who contributed to the crime of human trafficking.
- Anyone who took part in any of the crimes provided for in Articles 2, 4 and 6 of the Law.
This means that the role of an accomplice is not treated more leniently merely because they were not the main perpetrator; the Law equates the penalty of the perpetrator with that of anyone who contributed to or took part in the crimes mentioned. The article does not detail the forms of contribution or participation, so assessing whether a particular person's act amounts to contribution or participation is for the court according to the facts of the case.
Other provisions of the Law provide for independent crimes with their own penalties, such as Article 7, which punishes anyone who knows of a crime and does not report it at once, and Article 9, which punishes anyone who possesses the proceeds of the crime, conceals them, or conceals one of the persons involved in it. Anyone who is said to have played a role in a trafficking case, even a limited one, would do well to consult a lawyer specializing in criminal cases.
Practical example
Khaled drove a group of people in his car to a place where they are forced to work, knowing what is happening to them. If the court considers that his act is a contribution to the crime of human trafficking, he is punished with the same penalty as the perpetrator, not a lighter one.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
How we write and review contentCriminal Law lawyers: ask a specialist about your case
Describe your situation briefly and we'll suggest a lawyer who specialises in this law
Criminal Law lawyers
Lawyers who handle this kind of case
Ibrahim Al Salem Law Firm
Active contributor
Dr. Ali Al-Rubaie Law Office and Ittihad Al-Asr Legal Company
Frequently asked questions about Article 8 of the Saudi Anti-Human Trafficking Law
Is an accomplice in a human trafficking crime punished with the same penalty as the perpetrator?
Yes. Article 8 provides that anyone who contributes to the crime of human trafficking is punished with the perpetrator's penalty.
In which crimes is the person who takes part punished with the perpetrator's penalty?
In the crimes provided for in Articles 2, 4 and 6 of the Law, in addition to contributing to the crime of human trafficking.
Does the article specify what counts as contribution or participation?
No. The article does not detail the forms of contribution or participation, and assessing this is for the court according to the facts of each case.
Articles this article refers to
- Article 2
The article prohibits trafficking in any person in any form, and lists its means, such as coercion, deception, kidnapping and exploiting influence or vulnerability, and its prohibited purposes, such as sexual abuse, forced labor and begging.
يحظر الاتجار بأي شخص بأي شكل من الأشكال بما في ذلك إكراهه أو تهديده أو الاحتيال عليه أو خداعه أو خطفه، أو استغلال الوظيفة أو النفوذ، أو إساءة استعمال سلطة ما عل
- Article 4
The article requires the penalties in the Law to be increased in nine cases, including where the crime is committed by an organized group, against a woman or a child, or with a weapon.
تشدد العقوبات المنصوص عليها في هذا النظام في الحالات التالية: 1 ـ إذا ارتكبت الجريمة جماعة إجرامية منظمة . 2 ـ إذا ارتكبت ضد امرأة أو أحد من ذوي الاحتياجات الخا
- Article 6
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.
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
More articles on Penalty for Human Trafficking
- Article 3
The article punishes the crime of human trafficking with imprisonment for up to 15 years, a fine of up to SAR 1,000,000, or both.
يعاقب كل من ارتكب جريمة الاتجار بالأشخاص بالسجن مدة لا تزيد على (خمس عشرة) سنة، أو بغرامة لا تزيد على (مليون) ريال، أو بهما معا.
- Article 10
The article provides that an attempt at any of the crimes in Articles 2, 4 and 6 of the Law is punished with the penalty of the completed crime.
يعاقب على الشروع في أي من الجرائم المنصوص عليها في المواد: (الثانية) و(الرابعة) و(السادسة) من هذا النظام بعقوبة الجريمة التامة .
- Article 14
The article provides that the penalties in the Anti-Human Trafficking Law do not prevent any more severe penalty provided for in other laws from being imposed.
لا تخل العقوبات المنصوص عليها في هذا النظام بتوقيع أي عقوبة أشد منصوص عليها في أنظمة أخرى .
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.