Article 43 of the Saudi Anti-Money Laundering Law
المادة 43 من نظام مكافحة غسل الأموال · الفصل العاشر: أحكام عامة
The article allows the Public Prosecution to request records, documents and information from any person or body, requiring the recipient to comply accurately without delay and not to disclose the request except in specified cases.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- للنيابة العامة -بمبادرةٍ منها أو بناءً على طلب رجل الضبط الـجنائي- أن تطلب من أي شخص أو من المؤسسات المالية -عبر الجهات الرقابية- أو الأعمال والمهن غير المالية المحددة، أو المنظمات غير الهادفة إلى الربح؛ توفير سجلات أو مستندات أو معلومات، وعلى الجهة المطلوب منها ذلك تنفيذه بشكل صحيح ودقيق كما هو محدد في الطلب من دون تأخير. وتوضح اللائحة آليات تنفيذ تلك الطلبات.
2- على من يتبلغ بالطلب المنصوص عليه في الفقرة (1) من هذه المادة، عدم الإفصاح لأيّ شخص عن هذا الطلب أو ما يتعلق بتنفيذه إلا لشخص معني فيه، أو لموظّف آخر أو عضو من أعضاء الإدارة للحصول على المشورة، أو تحديد الخطوات الضرورية لتنفيذ الطلب.
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 43 explained in plain English
This article gives the Public Prosecution an important tool for gathering information in money laundering cases, and places two obligations on whoever receives the request: to comply, and to keep it secret.
First: requesting information (paragraph 1)
- The Public Prosecution makes the request on its own initiative or at the request of a criminal investigation officer.
- The request may be directed to any person, or to financial institutions through the supervisory authorities, or to designated non-financial businesses and professions, or to non-profit organizations.
- The subject of the request: records, documents or information.
- The person asked must comply correctly and accurately as specified in the request and without delay.
- The Implementing Regulations explain the mechanisms for carrying out these requests.
Second: the prohibition on disclosure (paragraph 2)
Whoever is served with the request must not disclose to any person the request or anything relating to its execution, except in the following cases:
- To a person concerned in it.
- To another employee or a member of management in order to obtain advice.
- To determine the steps necessary to carry out the request.
The purpose of secrecy is that the suspect does not learn of the investigation and hide his funds. This article is connected to Article 44, which allows the Public Prosecution to order the freezing of funds for a period not exceeding 60 days. Anyone who receives a request of this kind and is unsure of the limits of their obligation would do well to consult a lawyer who specializes in criminal cases or in banking and finance.
Practical example
A real estate office in Riyadh received, through the formal channel, a request from the Public Prosecution to provide contracts and transaction records of one of its customers. The office must provide what was requested accurately and without delay, and must not tell the customer or anyone else of the request, though the employee concerned may consult his manager to determine the steps for carrying it out.
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 43 of the Saudi Anti-Money Laundering Law
May the Public Prosecution request my account statement from the bank?
The Public Prosecution may request records, documents or information from financial institutions through the supervisory authorities, and the institution must comply accurately and without delay.
May the bank or an employee tell the customer about the Public Prosecution's request?
No. Disclosing the request or its execution to anyone is prohibited, except to a person concerned in it, or to an employee or member of management for advice or to determine the steps for execution.
Can the request be directed to an ordinary person?
Yes. The article allows the request to be directed to any person, in addition to the bodies mentioned in it.
More articles on Precautionary Seizure and Investigation
- Article 44
The article allows the Public Prosecution to order the freezing of funds subject to possible confiscation for a period not exceeding 60 days without prior notice, extendable by court order.
1- للنيابة العامة -بمبادرة منها أو بطلب من الإدارة العامة للتحريات المالية أو رجل ضبط جنائي بناءً على الاشتباه في جريمة غسل أموال أو جريمة أصلية- أن تأمر بالحجـ
- Article 45
The article allows the Public Prosecution to issue a warrant permitting entry into and search of homes, offices and the reporting entity's premises in money laundering and predicate offenses, and permits it without a warrant in necessity.
مع عدم الإخلال بما يتضمنه نظام الإجراءات الجزائية، للنيابة العامة -بمبادرة منها أو بناء على طلب رجل ضبط جنائي- إصدار مذكّرة تسمح لرجل الضبط الجنائي أو المحقق بد
- Article 46
The article allows the Public Prosecution to issue a reasoned order to monitor, record and intercept communications, messages and computer data in money laundering and predicate offenses, without prior warning.
مع عدم الإخلال بما يتضمنه نظام الإجراءات الجزائية، للنيابة العامة بمبادرة منها أو بطلب من رجل الضبط الجنائي، أن تصدر أمراً مسبباً يسمح لرجل الضبط الجنائي أو الم
- Article 47
The article provides that the competent court decides all the offenses set out in the Anti-Money Laundering Law.
تتولى المحكمة المختصة الفصل في جميع الجرائم الواردة في النظام.
- Article 48
The article makes investigation and prosecution before the competent court in the law's offenses the responsibility of the Public Prosecution, and allows it to issue rules and guidance for the bodies under its supervision.
تتولى النيابة العامة التحقيق والادعاء أمام المحكمة المختصة في الجرائم الواردة في النظام. ولها إصدار قواعد وإرشادات للجهات الخاضعة لإشرافها وفقاً لنظام الإجراءات
- Article 49
The article assigns to criminal investigation officers, each within their jurisdiction, searching, inquiry and collecting evidence in the law's offenses, and criminal and administrative pursuit to identify, trace and freeze proceeds and instrumentalities.
يتولى رجال الضبط الجنائي -كلٌّ وفق اختصاصه- القيام بالبحث والتحري وجمع الأدلة في الجرائم الواردة في النظام بالإضافة إلى الملاحقة الجنائية والإدارية من أجل تحديد
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.