Article 10 of the Saudi Classified Information Penal Law
المادة 10 من نظام عقوبات نشر الوثائق والمعلومات السرية وإفشائها
The article assigns to the competent court the hearing of the offenses under this law and the imposition of the penalty it provides.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تتولى المحكمة المختصة النظر في الجرائم وإيقاع العقوبة الواردة في هذا النظام.
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 10 explained in plain English
This article identifies the body that adjudicates the offenses in the law: the competent court, which:
- Hears the offenses set out in this law.
- Imposes the penalty it provides.
The text names no particular court, but refers to "the competent court", that is, the one designated by the laws in force. Note that the article gives the competent court two things together: hearing the offenses in the law, and imposing the penalty in it.
The sequence for dealing with an offense can be pictured as follows:
- Notifying the investigating authority by the government bodies under Article 9.
- Hearing the offense and imposing the penalty by the competent court under this article.
The offenses concerned relate to the classified documents and information that Article 1 defines. The details of application may be addressed by the Implementing Regulations that the National Center for Archives and Records issues within ninety days of the law's entry into force under Article 11.
To assess a particular situation, it is advisable to consult a lawyer specializing 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 10 of the Saudi Classified Information Penal Law
Who rules on offenses of disclosing classified documents?
The competent court, which hears the offenses and imposes the penalty provided in this law.
Does the article name the court?
No. It refers to the competent court without naming it.
More articles on Investigation and Trial of Disclosure Crimes
- Article 8
Article 8 assigns to the investigating body competent under law the investigation of this Law's crimes and prosecution for them before the competent judicial body.
تتولى جهة التحقيق - المختصة نظاماً - التحقيق في الجرائم الواردة في هذا النظام والادعاء فيها أمام الجهة القضائية المختصة.
- Article 9
Article 9 requires government bodies, including security bodies, to notify the investigating body when any crime under this Law occurs, and to notify the government body to which the suspect belongs under Article 3.
تشعر الجهات الحكومية - بما فيها الجهات الأمنية - جهة التحقيق عند وقوع أي جريمة من الجرائم المحددة في هذا النظام، وعليها إشعار الجهة الحكومية التابع لها المشتبه
- Article 11
The article charges the National Center for Archives and Records with issuing the law's Implementing Regulations within ninety days of its entry into force.
يصدر المركز الوطني للوثائق والمحفوظات اللائحة التنفيذية لهذا النظام، خلال تسعين يوماً من تاريخ نفاذه.
- Article 12
The article provides that the law takes effect ninety days after its publication in the Official Gazette.
يعمل بهذا النظام بعد تسعين يوما من تاريخ نشره في الجريدة الرسمية.
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.