Article 91 of the Saudi Antiquities Law
المادة 91 من نظام الآثار والمتاحف والتراث العمراني
Without prejudice to paragraph (1) of Article 90, the Bureau of Investigation and Public Prosecution is responsible for investigating violations of the Law and pursuing the case in respect of them before the criminal court.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
دون إخلال بالفقرة (1) من المادة (التسعين) من هذا النظام، تختص هيئة التحقيق والادعاء العام بالتحقيق في مخالفات هذا النظام، ومباشرة الدعوى في شأنها أمام المحكمة الجزائية.
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 91 explained in plain English
This article determines the body responsible for investigation and prosecution in violations of the Law, and the court competent to hear them.
- Investigation and prosecution body: the Bureau of Investigation and Public Prosecution.
- Its jurisdiction:
- Investigating violations of the Law.
- Pursuing the case in respect of them.
- The court: the criminal court.
The exception: this is without prejudice to paragraph (1) of Article 90. That paragraph provides for forming a committee of three members by decision of the Minister, at least one of whom is a Sharia or legal adviser, to consider the violations and apply the fines set out in Articles 75, 76 and 77.
This means there are two routes:
- The violations mentioned in Articles 75, 76 and 77: the committee considers them and applies their fines, its decisions are approved by the President, and they may be appealed to the Board of Grievances.
- The Law's other violations: the Bureau of Investigation and Public Prosecution is responsible for investigating them and pursuing the case before the criminal court.
The article uses the name "Bureau of Investigation and Public Prosecution" as it appears in the text. It is followed by Article 92, which provides that this Law replaces the previous antiquities law. Anyone facing an investigation or case over a violation of the Law should 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 91 of the Saudi Antiquities Law
Who investigates antiquities crimes?
The Bureau of Investigation and Public Prosecution is responsible for investigating violations of the Law and pursuing the case in respect of them, without prejudice to paragraph (1) of Article 90.
Which court is competent in antiquities cases?
The criminal court, before which the Bureau of Investigation and Public Prosecution pursues the case in violations of the Law.
Are all antiquities violations heard by the criminal court?
No. The violations set out in Articles 75, 76 and 77 are considered by the committee formed under paragraph (1) of Article 90.
Articles this article refers to
More articles on Recording Antiquities Violations and Confiscation
- Article 78
The smuggling provisions of the Unified Customs Law of the Gulf Cooperation Council states apply to smuggling antiquities, and the Customs Authority hands seized antiquities over to the Authority.
تطبق على تهريب الآثار الأحكام الخاصة بالتهريب، المنصوص عليها في نظام (قانون) الجمارك الموحد لدول مجلس التعاون لدول الخليج العربية، على أن تقوم مصلحة الجمارك بتس
- Article 79
Without prejudice to the rights of bona fide third parties, movable antiquities involved in violations and the funds derived from them, and the tools, machines and means of transport used in specified violations, are confiscated by court judgment.
مع عدم الإخلال بحقوق الغير (حسن النية)؛ تصادر بحكم قضائي الآثار المنقولة التي خالف حائزها أحكام المواد (الثانية، والسادسة والثلاثين، والأربعين) من هذا النظام، و
- Article 80
Without prejudice to penalties, anyone who found antiquities or obtained them in violation must hand them over, anyone who damaged registered sites must pay compensation, and anyone who demolished or built without approval must remove it and restore the site at his expense.
مع عدم الإخلال بالعقوبات المنصوص عليها في هذا النظام: 1 - يُلزم كل من عثر على آثار، أو استولى على آثار مملوكة للدولة بصورة غير مشروعة، أو حصل على آثار بطريقة مخ
- Article 81
Without prejudice to penalties, where survey, excavation, export, trading or museum licenses are violated, the committee provided for in Article 90 may stop the activity, or suspend or permanently cancel the license.
مع عدم الإخلال بالعقوبات المنصوص عليها في هذا النظام، في حالة مخالفة الأحكام والشروط المتعلقة بتراخيص المسح، أو التنقيب، أو التصدير، أو الاتجار، أو المتاحف؛ فلل
- Article 82
Anyone who takes part, by agreement, incitement or assistance, in committing any violation under the Law is punished with the same penalty set for it.
يعاقب كل من اشترك بطريق الاتفاق، أو التحريض، أو المساعدة في ارتكاب أي من المخالفات المنصوص عليها في هذا النظام بالعقوبة نفسها المقررة لها.
- Article 83
Attempting any violation of the Law is punished by no more than half of the maximum penalty prescribed for it.
يعاقب على الشروع في أي من المخالفات المنصوص عليها في هذا النظام بما لا يتجاوز نصف الحد الأعلى للعقوبة المقررة لها.
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.