Article 49 of the Saudi Anti-Money Laundering Law
المادة 49 من نظام مكافحة غسل الأموال · الفصل العاشر: أحكام عامة
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 متحصلات الجريمة أو وسائطها أو تعقّبها أو التحفظ عليها.
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 49 explained in plain English
This article defines the role of criminal investigation officers in the offenses set out in the Anti-Money Laundering Law.
The tasks assigned to them:
- Searching and inquiry in the offenses set out in the law.
- Collecting evidence.
- Criminal and administrative pursuit in order to identify the proceeds or instrumentalities of the crime, or trace or freeze them.
The jurisdiction restriction: Each criminal investigation officer does this "within his jurisdiction"; the article does not give absolute jurisdiction, and does not name the bodies to which criminal investigation officers belong.
The terms used, under Article 1:
- Proceeds: funds arising or derived, inside or outside the Kingdom, directly or indirectly from the commission of a predicate offense, including funds that were converted or exchanged into similar funds.
- Instrumentalities: anything prepared, intended or meant to be used, or actually used, in committing one of the law's offenses.
This article complements Article 48, which makes investigation and prosecution before the competent court the responsibility of the Public Prosecution. The two roles complement each other: criminal investigation officers inquire and collect evidence, and the Public Prosecution investigates and prosecutes before the competent court. Anyone who is the subject of an inquiry or pursuit in this context needs to 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.
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Frequently asked questions about Article 49 of the Saudi Anti-Money Laundering Law
Who collects evidence in money laundering cases?
Criminal investigation officers, each within their jurisdiction, carry out searching and inquiry and collecting evidence in the offenses set out in the law.
Do criminal investigation officers trace the funds arising from the crime?
Yes. Their tasks include criminal and administrative pursuit to identify the proceeds or instrumentalities of the crime, or trace or freeze them.
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 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
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.