Article 34 of the Saudi Anti-Money Laundering Law
المادة 34 من نظام مكافحة غسل الأموال · الفصل الثامن: المصادرة
The article requires the competent court to order confiscation of funds connected to a money laundering offense without conviction, if the offender cannot be tried because of death, flight, absence or unknown identity.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تحكم المحكمة المختصة بمصادرة الأموال المرتبطة بجريمة غسل أموال التي لا تستند على إدانة في حال تعذر محاكمة مرتكب الجريمة بسبب وفاته أو هربه أو غيابه أو عدم تحديد هويته.
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 34 explained in plain English
This article deals with a case in which the perpetrator of a money laundering offense cannot be tried, and it provides for confiscation without conviction.
The general rule in Article 33 is that confiscation is by court judgment on conviction for a money laundering offense or a predicate offense, and covers the laundered funds, the proceeds and the instrumentalities, without prejudice to the rights of bona fide third parties.
The exception in this article: The competent court rules to confiscate funds connected to a money laundering offense without relying on a conviction, if trying the perpetrator is impossible for one of the following reasons:
- His death.
- His flight.
- His absence.
- His identity not being determined.
The aim is that funds connected to the offense do not remain beyond confiscation merely because a trial is impossible. Confiscation, as Article 1 defines it, is the permanent stripping and deprivation of funds, proceeds or instrumentalities based on a judgment of a competent court; so even in this case a court judgment for confiscation is required.
This provision is read together with Article 35, which allows the confiscation of other funds of equal value if the funds connected to the offense are no longer available or their location cannot be determined.
The article does not state the procedures for this confiscation. Anyone who has rights in funds connected to this case, such as heirs or partners, would do well to consult a lawyer who specializes in criminal cases.
Practical example
Investigations uncovered funds connected to a money laundering offense in the accounts of a person who left the Kingdom and fled before being tried. His flight does not prevent confiscating those funds; the competent court rules to confiscate them without relying on a conviction, because trying him is impossible due to his flight.
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 34 of the Saudi Anti-Money Laundering Law
Can funds be confiscated if the person accused of money laundering dies?
Yes. The competent court rules to confiscate the funds connected to the offense without a conviction if the trial is impossible because of death.
In what cases is confiscation without conviction permitted?
When trying the perpetrator is impossible because of his death, flight, absence or because his identity is not determined.
Does confiscation take place without a court judgment in these cases?
No. The article provides that the competent court is the one that rules on confiscation.
More articles on Confiscating Laundered Funds
- Article 33Amended by M/223
The article sets what is confiscated by court judgment on conviction for money laundering or a predicate offense, including funds disproportionate to lawful income, while protecting bona fide third parties and voiding acts that obstruct recovery.
1- مع عدم الإخلال بحقوق الغير الحسن النية، يصادر بحكم قضائي في حال الإدانة بجريمة غسل أموال أو جريمة أصلية ما يأتي: أ- الأموال المغسولة. ب- المتحصلات، فإن اختلط
- Article 35
The article provides for confiscating other funds of equal value from the offender if the funds connected to the offense cannot be confiscated, and completing the value of the proceeds from his other funds if the confiscated amount is less.
1- إذا كانت مصادرة الأموال المرتبطة بجريمة غسل أموال غير ممكنة لكونها لم تعد متوافرة للمصادرة أو لا يمكن تحديد مكانها؛ فتحكم المحكمة المختصة بمصادرة أموال أخرى
- Article 36
The article provides that confiscated funds revert to the public treasury unless another law provides otherwise, remaining burdened, up to their value, with the lawfully established rights of bona fide third parties.
ما لم ينص نظام آخر على غير ذلك, تؤول الأموال المصادَرة إلى الخزينة العامة، وتظل هذه الأموال مُحملة في حدود قيمتها بأي حقوق تتقرر بصورة مشروعة لأي طرف آخر حسن ال
- Article 37
The article allows the competent authority, after a confiscation judgment, to dispose of confiscated funds, proceeds or instrumentalities not required to be destroyed under the law, or share them with states that have valid agreements with the Kingdom.
إذا حكم بمصادرة الأموال أو المتحصلات أو الوسائط المستخدمة أو التي اتجهت النية لاستخدامها أو استردادها وفقاً لأحكام النظام وكانت غير واجبة الإتلاف، فللسلطة المخت
- Article 39
The article allows the competent authorities, at the request of another state under a valid agreement or reciprocity, to provide assistance in money laundering and predicate offense cases, such as tracing, freezing and confiscating funds.
للسلطات المختصة -بناءً على طلب من محكمة أو سلطة مختصة في دولة أخرى تربطها بالمملكة اتفاقية سارية أو تبعاً لمبدأ المعاملة بالمثل- أن تُقدم المساعدة في التحقيقات
- Article 40
The article allows the competent authorities to recognize and enforce a final foreign court judgment confiscating funds connected to money laundering or a predicate offense, under specified conditions.
يجوز للسلطات المختصة الاعتراف والتنفيذ لأي حكم قضائي نهائي ينص على مصادرة الأموال أو المتحصلات أو الوسائط المتعلقة بجرائم غسل الأموال أو الجريمة الأصلية، يصدر م
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.