Article 27 of the Saudi Anti-Money Laundering Law
المادة 27 من نظام مكافحة غسل الأموال · الفصل السابع: العقوبات
The article raises the money laundering penalty to imprisonment of three to fifteen years or a fine up to SAR 7,000,000 or both, if the offense is accompanied by one of seven circumstances.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يعاقب كل من يرتكب جريمة غسل الأموال -المنصوص عليها في المادة (الثانية) من النظام- بالسجن مدة لا تقل عن ثلاث سنوات ولا تتجاوز خمس عشرة سنة، أو بغرامة لا تزيد على سبعة ملايين ريال، أو بكلتا العقوبتين؛ إذا اقترنت الجريمة بأي من الآتي:
1- ارتكابها من خلال جماعة إجرامية منظمة.
2- استخدام العنف أو الأسلحة.
3- اتصالها بوظيفة عامة يشغلها الجاني، أو ارتكابها باستغلال السلطة أو النفوذ.
4- الاتجار بالبشر.
5- استغلال قاصر ومن في حكمه.
6- ارتكابها من خلال مؤسسة إصلاحية أو خيرية أو تعليمية أو في مرفق خدمة اجتماعية.
7- صدور أي حكم سابق محلي أو أجنبي بإدانة الجاني.
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 27 explained in plain English
This article sets the aggravated penalty for the money laundering offense provided for in Article 2, which is the offense covering converting proceeds, possessing them or concealing their source with knowledge, and attempting or participating in these.
The aggravated penalty:
- Imprisonment for a period of no less than 3 years and not exceeding 15 years.
- Or a fine not exceeding SAR 7,000,000.
- Or both penalties together.
Aggravating circumstances: This penalty applies if the offense is accompanied by any of the following:
- It is committed through an organized criminal group.
- The use of violence or weapons.
- Its connection to a public office held by the offender, or its commission through abuse of authority or influence.
- Human trafficking.
- Exploitation of a minor or the like.
- It is committed through a correctional, charitable or educational institution or in a social service facility.
- A previous judgment convicting the offender, domestic or foreign.
One of these circumstances is enough to apply the aggravated penalty, because the text says "any of the following".
By comparison, the basic penalty in Article 26 is imprisonment of two to ten years or a fine not exceeding SAR 5,000,000 or both. Article 28 adds consequences for a person sentenced for a money laundering offense: a Saudi sentenced to imprisonment is barred from traveling for a period equal to the prison term, and a non-Saudi is deported after serving the sentence and barred from entering the Kingdom except to perform the Hajj or Umrah rites, in accordance with the provisions regulating that.
Anyone facing an accusation that includes one of these circumstances needs a lawyer who specializes in criminal cases.
Practical example
An employee of a government body used his influence in his job to pass money he knew was proceeds of a crime through his relatives' accounts to conceal its source. Here the offense is connected to a public office held by the offender, so his penalty under this article is imprisonment of 3 to 15 years or a fine not exceeding SAR 7 million 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 27 of the Saudi Anti-Money Laundering Law
When is the money laundering penalty aggravated?
If the offense is accompanied by one of the seven circumstances: an organized criminal group, violence or weapons, public office and abuse of influence, human trafficking, exploitation of a minor, a correctional, charitable or educational institution or social service facility, or a previous conviction.
What is the aggravated penalty for money laundering?
Imprisonment for a period of no less than three years and not exceeding fifteen years, or a fine not exceeding seven million riyals, or both penalties.
Is a previous foreign judgment taken into account for aggravation?
Yes. The text refers to any previous domestic or foreign judgment convicting the offender.
Articles this article refers to
More articles on Penalty for Money Laundering
- Article 26
The article sets the basic penalty for money laundering: imprisonment of two to ten years, or a fine not exceeding SAR 5,000,000, or both.
يعاقب كل من يرتكب جريمة غسل الأموال المنصوص عليها في المادة (الثانية) من النظام؛ بالسجن مدة لا تقل عن سنتين ولا تتجاوز عشر سنوات, أو بغرامة لا تزيد على خمسة ملا
- Article 28Amended by M/223
The article bars a Saudi sentenced to imprisonment for money laundering from traveling for a period equal to the sentence, and requires deporting a convicted non-Saudi after the sentence and barring entry except for Hajj or Umrah.
1- يمنع السعودي المحكوم عليه بعقوبة السجن في جريمة غسل أموال من السفر خارج المملكة مدة مماثلة لمدة السجن المحكوم عليه بها. 2- يُبعد غير السعودي المحكوم عليه في
- Article 31
The article punishes a legal person that commits money laundering with a fine up to SAR 50,000,000 and not less than twice the value of the funds, with the possible additional penalties of barring it from its activity, closing its offices or liquidating it.
1- مع عدم الإخلال بالمسؤولية الجنائية للشخص ذي الصفة الطبيعية، يعاقَب أي شخص ذي صفة اعتبارية يرتكب جريمة غسل الأموال بغرامة لا تزيد على خمسين مليون ريال سعودي و
- Article 32
The article allows a money laundering conviction to include publishing a summary of the judgment at the convicted person's expense in a local newspaper or other suitable means, after the judgment becomes final.
يجوز تضمين الحكم الصادر بالعقوبة النص على نشر ملخصه على نفقة المحكوم عليه في صحيفة محلية تصدر في مقر إقامته، فإن لم تكن في مقره صحيفة ففي أقرب منطقة له، أو نشره
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.