Article 205 of the Saudi Bankruptcy Law
المادة 205 من نظام الإفلاس · الفصل الثالث عشر: العقوبات والتعاملات القابلة للإلغاء: نطاق التطبيق
The article allows the court, when considering the penalties in Article 203, to order at an interested party's request the nullity of the transaction, recovery of the debtor's assets, or compensation.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
للمحكمة عند النظر في إيقاع أي من العقوبات المنصوص عليها في المادة (الثالثة بعد المائتين) من النظام أن تقضي -بناء على طلب ذي مصلحة- بواحد أو أكثر مما يأتي:
أ- بطلان التصرف أو الأثر المترتب على ارتكاب أي من الأفعال المنصوص عليها في المواد: (المائتين) و(الأولى بعد المائتين) و(الثانية بعد المائتين) من النظام.
ب- استرداد أي أصول للمدين وأي حقوق مرتبطة بها.
ج- التعويض بناء على طلب من ذي مصلحة.
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 205 explained in plain English
A penalty alone does not restore creditors' rights, so this article gives the court additional powers. When considering imposing any of the penalties stated in Article 203, the court may, at the request of an interested party, order one or more of the following:
- Nullity: nullity of the transaction or of the effect resulting from committing any of the acts stated in Articles 200, 201 and 202.
- Recovery: recovery of any of the debtor's assets and any rights connected with them.
- Compensation: at the request of an interested party.
Two points should be noted:
- These powers arise when considering imposing the penalties stated in Article 203.
- They depend on a request from an interested party, such as an injured creditor; the article does not say the court orders them on its own initiative.
The practical benefit is that a person harmed by the criminalized acts, such as hiding the debtor's assets or entering into transactions for no consideration, can ask the court to annul the transaction and recover the assets or award him compensation, alongside punishing the violator.
The article is linked to Article 204, which requires the court to notify the Bankruptcy Committee of judgments issued under this chapter as soon as they are issued, and to Article 206, which requires the bankruptcy trustee, if he suspects that the debtor or any of its creditors committed any of the criminalized acts, to go to the competent authority. For an assessment of a specific situation, consult a lawyer specializing in bankruptcy and commercial cases or in criminal cases.
Practical example
During the trial of a company manager in Riyadh for transferring the company's cars to a relative for no consideration before its liquidation was opened, a creditor asked the court to annul the transfer and return the cars to the debtor's assets. The court may so order, and may award compensation to any interested party who requested it.
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 205 of the Saudi Bankruptcy Law
Can money the debtor smuggled out before bankruptcy be recovered?
When considering the penalties of Article 203, the court may, at the request of an interested party, order the recovery of any of the debtor's assets and any rights connected with them.
Does an injured creditor have the right to ask for compensation?
Yes. The court may award compensation at the request of an interested party.
Does the court order nullity on its own initiative?
The article makes this depend on a request from an interested party.
Articles this article refers to
- Article 203
The article sets the penalty for the acts criminalized in Articles 200, 201 and 202: imprisonment up to 5 years and a fine up to SAR 5 million or either, with possible bans on managing establishments.
1- دون الإخلال بأي عقوبة أشد ينص عليها نظام آخر، يعاقب كل من ارتكب أياً من الأفعال المجرّمة المنصوص عليها في المواد (المائتين) و(الأولى بعد المائتين) و(الثانية
- Article 200
The article lists acts by an individual debtor, a debtor's managers, board members, officers and others that violate the law if committed before or during bankruptcy and harm others.
دون الإخلال بأحكام الأنظمة ذات العلاقة، يعد مخالفاً لأحكام النظام كل مدين ذي صفة طبيعية أو مدير لدى مدين أو عضو في مجلس إدارته أو مجلس مديريه أو أي من مسؤوليه أ
- Article 201
The article lists acts that violate the Bankruptcy Law if committed by any person before bankruptcy and leading to it, or during it, and harming the parties' rights.
دون الإخلال بأحكام الأنظمة ذات العلاقة، يعد مخالفاً لأحكام النظام كل من ارتكب قبل افتتاح أي من إجراءات الإفلاس واحداً أو أكثر من الأفعال الآتية وأدى إلى افتتاحه
- Article 202
The article lists acts by a creditor, or someone claiming to be one, that violate the law, such as fraudulent claims, harmful arrangements with the debtor and abuse of procedures.
دون الإخلال بأحكام الأنظمة ذات العلاقة، يعد مخالفاً لأحكام النظام كل دائن أو من يدعي هذه الصفة ارتكب قبل افتتاح أي من إجراءات الإفلاس واحداً أو أكثر من الأفعال
More articles on Bankruptcy Offenses and Voidable Transactions
- Article 71
At an interested party's request, the court may annul the debtor's disposal of estate assets outside its usual business in breach of Article 70 and recover the assets, taking into account the rights of good-faith third parties.
إذا تصرف المدين في أي من أصول التفليسة خارج نطاق مزاولة نشاطه المعتاد بالمخالفة لحكم الفقرة (1/ن) من المادة (السبعين) من النظام، فللمحكمة أن تقضي -بناء على طلب
- Article 174
The article requires the Bankruptcy Committee to refer the matter to the relevant authority if it sees a need for further verification because of suspicion of a crime or violation in any claim or act.
على لجنة الإفلاس -إذا رأت حاجة لإجراء مزيد من التحقق لوجود شبهة جريمة أو مخالفة منصوص عليها في النظام في أي مطالبة أو تصرف- إحالة الأمر إلى الجهة المعنية.
- Article 200
The article lists acts by an individual debtor, a debtor's managers, board members, officers and others that violate the law if committed before or during bankruptcy and harm others.
دون الإخلال بأحكام الأنظمة ذات العلاقة، يعد مخالفاً لأحكام النظام كل مدين ذي صفة طبيعية أو مدير لدى مدين أو عضو في مجلس إدارته أو مجلس مديريه أو أي من مسؤوليه أ
- Article 201
The article lists acts that violate the Bankruptcy Law if committed by any person before bankruptcy and leading to it, or during it, and harming the parties' rights.
دون الإخلال بأحكام الأنظمة ذات العلاقة، يعد مخالفاً لأحكام النظام كل من ارتكب قبل افتتاح أي من إجراءات الإفلاس واحداً أو أكثر من الأفعال الآتية وأدى إلى افتتاحه
- Article 202
The article lists acts by a creditor, or someone claiming to be one, that violate the law, such as fraudulent claims, harmful arrangements with the debtor and abuse of procedures.
دون الإخلال بأحكام الأنظمة ذات العلاقة، يعد مخالفاً لأحكام النظام كل دائن أو من يدعي هذه الصفة ارتكب قبل افتتاح أي من إجراءات الإفلاس واحداً أو أكثر من الأفعال
- Article 203
The article sets the penalty for the acts criminalized in Articles 200, 201 and 202: imprisonment up to 5 years and a fine up to SAR 5 million or either, with possible bans on managing establishments.
1- دون الإخلال بأي عقوبة أشد ينص عليها نظام آخر، يعاقب كل من ارتكب أياً من الأفعال المجرّمة المنصوص عليها في المواد (المائتين) و(الأولى بعد المائتين) و(الثانية
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.