Article 17 of the Saudi Anti-Money Laundering Law
المادة 17 من نظام مكافحة غسل الأموال · الفصل الرابع: الإدارة العامة للتحريات المالية
The article sets the General Department of Financial Intelligence as reporting to the Head of State Security, with independence, and as a central body that receives reports, analyzes them and refers results to the competent authorities.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
ترتبط الإدارة العامة للتحريات المالية برئيس أمن الدولة، وتتمتع باستقلالية عملية كافية, وتعمل -بوصفها جهازاً مركزياً وطنياً- على تلقي البلاغات والمعلومات والتقارير المرتبطة بغسل الأموال أو الجرائم الأصلية أو متحصّلات الجريمة وفقاً لما هو منصوص عليه في النظام واللائحة، وتحليل ودراسة هذه البلاغات والتقارير والمعلومات, وإحالة نتائج تحليلها إلى السلطات المختصّة، بشكلٍ تلقائي أو عند الطلب. ويحدد رئيس أمن الدولة الهيكل التنظيمي للإدارة العامة للتحريات المالية، وتحدد اللائحة اختصاصاتها ومهماتها.
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 17 explained in plain English
This article introduces the pivotal body in the anti-money laundering system, the General Department of Financial Intelligence, and sets out its status and basic mission.
Its organizational status:
- It is linked to the Head of State Security.
- It enjoys sufficient operational independence in carrying out its work.
- The Head of State Security sets its organizational structure, while the Implementing Regulations set its competences and tasks.
Its mission as a central national body:
- Receiving reports, information and reports connected to money laundering, predicate offenses or proceeds of crime, in accordance with the law and the regulations.
- Analyzing these reports, notices and information and studying them.
- Referring the results of the analysis to the competent authorities, spontaneously or on request.
This Department is thus the body that receives the reports made by financial institutions and designated non-financial businesses and professions when they suspect. Article 16 provides that these bodies and their staff are prohibited from tipping off the customer or anyone else that a report has been or will be submitted to the Department, and that no liability falls on them toward the person reported on if they report to the Department or provide it with information in good faith. Article 18 gives the Department the power to obtain additional information from the reporting party, and to request information through the competent supervisory authority in certain cases.
Note that the Department analyzes and refers; the article does not say that it issues judgments or penalties. Anyone who has received an inquiry related to a report can consult a lawyer who specializes in criminal cases.
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 contentA question about Article 17 of Anti-Money Laundering Law?
Describe what happened and specialist lawyers answer. You can write in English.
- Completely free
- Lawyers from the directory answer
- Your name stays hidden
Criminal 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
شركة امتداد النظام للمحاماة والاستشارات المهنية
- Labour & Employment Law
- Criminal Law
- Criminal Law
- Commercial & Corporate Law
Frequently asked questions about Article 17 of the Saudi Anti-Money Laundering Law
Which body does the General Department of Financial Intelligence report to?
It is linked to the Head of State Security and enjoys sufficient operational independence, and the Head of State Security sets its organizational structure.
What does the Department do with the reports it receives?
It analyzes and studies them, then refers the results of the analysis to the competent authorities, spontaneously or on request.
Where are the Department's competences set out in detail?
The article provides that the Implementing Regulations set its competences and tasks.
More articles on General Directorate of Financial Intelligence
- Article 15Amended by M/223
The article requires financial institutions and designated non-financial businesses and professions, including legal and accounting service providers, to report to the General Department of Financial Intelligence immediately when money laundering is suspected.
على المؤسسات المالية، والأعمال والمهن غير المالية المحددة - بما في ذلك الأشخاص الذي يقدمون خدمات قانونية أو محاسبية - عند اشتباههم أو إذا توافرت لديهم أسباب معق
- Article 19
The article lets the General Department of Financial Intelligence refer information and its analysis results to the competent authorities where there are grounds for suspicion, and gives it full authority to exercise its competences independently.
للإدارة العامة للتحريات المالية من تلقاء نفسها أو عند الطلب إحالة المعلومات ونتائج تحليلها إلى السلطات المختصة ذات الصلة عندما تكون هناك أسباب للاشتباه بأنّ معا
- Article 20
The article binds every employee of the General Department of Financial Intelligence and every person answerable to it to keep confidential the information they see in their work, even after their responsibilities end.
على كل موظف يعمل في الإدارة العامة للتحريات المالية، أو أي شخص مسؤول أمامها، الالتزام بسرية المعلومات التي يطلع عليها ضمن نطاق أداء واجباته حتى بعد انتهاء مسؤول
- Article 21
The article allows the General Department of Financial Intelligence to exchange the information it holds with the competent authorities, and to enter into agreements or memoranda of understanding with them to facilitate exchange and cooperation.
للإدارة العامة للتحريات المالية أن تتبادل مع السلطات المختصّة المعلومات التي تحتفظ بها، ولها كذلك الدخول في اتفاقيات أو مذكرات تفاهم مع السلطات المختصة لتسهيل ع
- Article 22
The article allows the General Department of Financial Intelligence to exchange information with counterpart foreign bodies and enter into arrangements with them, after obtaining an undertaking to use the information only for the purpose it was requested.
1- للإدارة العامة للتحريات المالية أن تتبادل مع أي جهة أجنبية نظيرة أو تطلب منها أي معلومة متصلة بعملها، ولها أن تُبرم -وفقاً للإجراءات النظامية- مع أي جهة أجنب
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.