Article 62 of the Saudi Anti-Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Law
المادة 62 من نظام مكافحة المخدرات والمؤثرات العقلية
The article provides that a person who committed several drug offenses before a final judgment is tried for the one with the heaviest penalty and receives only that penalty, and that the heavier penalty applies if this Law and another law both punish the act.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1 - إذا ارتكب شخص عدة جرائم معاقب عليها بموجب أحكام هذا النظام قبل صدور حكم نهائي بحقه عن أي واحده منها، وجب محاكمته على الجريمة ذات العقوبة الأشد والحكم بعقوبتها دون غيرها.
2 - إذا كانت الجريمة معاقب عليها بموجب هذا النظام ونظام آخر، فتطبق العقوبة الأشد.
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 62 explained in plain English
This article deals with two cases where penalties overlap in drug offenses:
- Several offenses before a final judgment: if a person commits several offenses punishable under this Law and no final judgment has been issued against him for any one of them, he is tried for the offense with the heaviest penalty and is sentenced to its penalty and no other. So the penalties for all those offenses are not added together in this case.
- An act punished under two laws: if an offense is punishable under this Law and under another law at the same time, the heavier penalty of the two applies.
The basic condition in the first case is that all the offenses were committed before a final judgment was issued against the person for any one of them; the text does not address the rule for a person who commits a new offense after a final judgment has been issued against him.
The following articles complement this rule for certain kinds of penalties: Article 63 provides that fine penalties are cumulative and do not displace the penalty of confiscation, and Article 64 allows discretionary flogging penalties to be merged, being content with the heaviest, unless the judge sees otherwise.
Because identifying the heaviest offense and how this rule is applied with the other articles differs from case to case, it is advisable to consult a lawyer specialized in criminal and drug cases.
Practical example
Saad was arrested on a charge of possessing narcotics with the intent of using them, and it later became clear during the investigation that he had previously committed an offense of transporting drugs with the intent of dealing, with no final judgment issued against him in either. Under this article Saad is tried for the offense with the heaviest penalty and is sentenced to its penalty and no other.
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 62 of the Saudi Anti-Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Law
Are penalties added together if a person commits more than one drug offense?
If the offenses were committed before a final judgment in any of them, he is tried for the offense with the heaviest penalty and sentenced to its penalty and no other.
What if the offense is punished under the narcotics law and another law?
The heavier penalty between the two laws applies.
Does this rule include fines?
Article 63 provides that fine penalties are cumulative and do not displace the penalty of confiscation.
More articles on Participation, Attempt and Mitigation
- Article 8
The article requires the authorities to pursue anyone who participates in, incites, assists in or attempts outside the Kingdom an Article Three offense if the intention is to facilitate its commission inside the Kingdom.
على السلطات المختصة في المملكة اتخاذ الإجراءات وملاحقة الأشخاص المتهمين بالاشتراك الجرمي والمساهمة الأصلية أو التبعية أو عن طريق المساعدة بالتدخل أو التحريض أو
- Article 58
The article punishes anyone who takes part, by agreement, incitement or assistance, in the acts in paragraphs 1 to 5 of Article 3 with the penalty set for the offense itself.
يعاقب بالعقوبة المقررة على الجريمة نفسها، كل من شارك في ارتكاب أي من الأفعال المنصوص عليها في الفقرات 5،4،3،2،1 من المادة (الثالثة) من هذا النظام، سواء أكانت هذ
- Article 59
The article punishes attempting the Article 38(1) offenses with up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to SAR 50,000, attempting other offenses with up to half the maximum penalties, and allows the court to add flogging.
1 - يعاقب على الشروع في أي جريمة من الجرائم المنصوص عليها في الفقرة رقم (1) من المادة (الثامنة والثلاثين) من هذا النظام، بالسجن مدة لا تزيد على عشر سنوات، وبغرا
- Article 60
The article allows the court, for valid reasons, to go below the minimum prison penalty in Articles 37 to 41 and to suspend the prison sentence imposed under Article 48, and explains the effects of the suspension.
1 – للمحكمة -ولأسباب معتبرة، أو إذا ظهر لها من أخلاق المحكوم عليه أو ماضيه أو سنه أو ظروفه الشخصية أو الظروف التي ارتكبت فيها الجريمة أو غير ذلك مما يبعث على ال
- Article 61
The article exempts from the penalties for Article 3 offenses any offender, other than an inciter, who takes the initiative to report the offense to the public authorities, on conditions that differ depending on whether the authorities already knew of it.
يعفى من العقوبات المقررة عن الجرائم المنصوص عليها في المادة (الثالثة) من هذا النظام، كل من بادر من الجناة -ما لم يكن محرضا على الجريمة- بإبلاغ السلطات العامة عن
- Article 63
The article provides that fine penalties in drug offenses are cumulative and that they do not displace or replace the penalty of confiscation.
تتعدد العقوبات بالغرامة، ولا تجب هذه العقوبات عقوبة المصادرة .
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.