Article 44 of the Saudi Anti-Money Laundering Law
المادة 44 من نظام مكافحة غسل الأموال · الفصل العاشر: أحكام عامة
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 بالحجـز التـحـفـظي على الأموال محل المصادرة أو التي قد تصبح محلاً للمصادرة، لمدة لا تتجاوز (ستين) يوماً. ويُصدَر الأمر، ويطبق من دون إشعار مسبق للطرف المعني. ويمكن تمديد الأمر مدة أطول بموجب أمر قضائي صادر من المحكمة المختصّة مع عدم الإخلال بحقوق أي طرف آخر حسن النيّة.
2- للنيابة العامة -عند إصدار أمر الحجز التحفظي- أن تُبقي الأموال المحجوزة تحت إدارة صاحب المصلحة فيها أو أي طرف آخر، أو أن تطلب من المحكمة المختصة الأمر بنقل هذه الأموال إلى جهة مختصة للحد من احتمال اختفائها.
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 44 explained in plain English
This article regulates freezing in money laundering cases, which under Article 1 is the temporary prohibition on moving, transferring, exchanging, disposing of or taking possession of funds, based on an order of the competent court or competent authority.
Who may order the freeze? The Public Prosecution, on its own initiative or at the request of the General Department of Financial Intelligence or a criminal investigation officer, based on suspicion of a money laundering offense or a predicate offense.
What does it apply to? To funds subject to confiscation, or that may become subject to confiscation.
Its basic provisions:
- Its duration does not exceed 60 days.
- It is issued and applied without prior notice to the party concerned.
- It can be extended for a longer period by a court order from the competent court.
- It does not prejudice the rights of any other bona fide party.
Managing the frozen funds (paragraph 2): When issuing the order, the Public Prosecution may:
- leave the funds under the management of the person with an interest in them or any other party, or
- ask the competent court to order their transfer to a competent body, to reduce the possibility of their disappearance.
Freezing is a temporary measure and not confiscation; confiscation takes place only by court judgment. This article is connected to Article 43 on requesting records and information, and to Article 45 on search warrants. Anyone whose funds have been frozen needs to consult a lawyer who specializes in criminal cases.
Practical example
The General Department of Financial Intelligence suspected that sums entering Salem's account came from a crime, and asked the Public Prosecution to freeze them. The Public Prosecution may order the freeze without prior notice to Salem for a period not exceeding 60 days, and it cannot be extended after that except by court order from the competent court.
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 44 of the Saudi Anti-Money Laundering Law
How long can funds be frozen in a money laundering case?
No more than 60 days, and it can be extended for a longer period by court order from the competent court.
Is the owner of the funds notified before they are frozen?
No. The order is issued and applied without prior notice to the party concerned.
Can the owner continue to manage his frozen funds?
The Public Prosecution may leave the funds under the management of the person with an interest in them or another party, or ask the court to transfer them to a competent body.
Does freezing mean confiscation?
No. Freezing is a temporary prohibition, whereas confiscation is permanent stripping that takes place only by judgment of a competent court.
More articles on Precautionary Seizure and Investigation
- Article 43
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.
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 المال
- 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.