Article 139 of the Saudi Commercial Court Law
المادة 139 من النظام التجاري نظام المحكمة التجارية · الفصل الحادي عشر: في العقوبات
The article punishes a merchant who tricks a discerning minor, exploiting his need, into giving a document, by imprisonment of three months to a year or a fine of fifty to one hundred pounds.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
كل من أساء الاستعمال من التجار في احتياجات صبي مميز بأن احتال عليه لأخذ وثيقة منه على أي صورة كانت سواء تضمنت استقراض دراهم واستعارة أشياء أو إعطاء أوراق أو إبراء أو اعترافا عدا تضمنه ما يلحق الصبي من الأضرار يحبس من ثلاثة أشهر إلى سنة أو بغرامة نقدية من خمسين جنيها إلى مائة جنيه.
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 139 explained in plain English
This article protects the discerning minor from exploitation by merchants.
The punishable act: that a merchant abuses the needs of a discerning minor, by tricking him into giving a document, in whatever form, whether the document contains:
- borrowing money.
- borrowing things.
- handing over papers.
- a release.
- an acknowledgment.
The penalty: imprisonment of three months to a year, or a cash fine of fifty to one hundred pounds.
The phrase "apart from his bearing the harm done to the minor" indicates that the penalty does not prevent the merchant from bearing the harm done to the minor.
The text punishes exploiting his needs, that is, the circumstances of his need, by trickery to obtain a document.
The fine is stated in the text in pounds, which reflects the time the Law was issued, and the text does not specify what corresponds to it today.
Before it, Article 138 punishes reneging on a sale. Article 140 follows, punishing whoever abuses a bond or a commercial book by changing or inserting words in a way amounting to embezzlement and forgery.
If your son has been subjected to such exploitation, consult a lawyer who specializes in criminal cases.
Practical example
A merchant in Riyadh exploits a discerning minor's need for money, lends him a small sum and has him sign a document acknowledging a much larger debt. Under this article the merchant is punished by imprisonment of three months to a year or by a fine, in addition to the harm done to the minor.
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 139 of the Saudi Commercial Court Law
What is the penalty for exploiting a discerning minor to obtain a document from him?
Imprisonment of three months to a year, or a cash fine of fifty to one hundred pounds.
What kinds of documents are covered?
Any form, whether it contains borrowing money, borrowing things, handing over papers, a release or an acknowledgment.
More articles on Commercial Penalties
- Article 5
The article requires every merchant to deal with integrity and honor, without fraud, deceit or swindling, or he deserves the penalty under the penalties in the law.
يجب على كل تاجر أن يسلك في كل أعماله التجارية بدين وشرف، فلا يرتكب غشا ولا تدليسا ولا احتيالا ولا غبنا ولا غررا ولا نكثا ولا شيئا مما يخالف الدين والشرف بوجه من
- Article 41
The article makes every money changer responsible for his work, books and employees, regulates the exchange of coins at the Finance request, and assigns the application of the money changer provisions to municipal councils where there is no Commercial Court.
كل صراف مسئول عن أعماله وانتظام دفاتره وأعمال الأشخاص المستخدمين عنده مما تترتب فيها عقوبة بمقتضى فصل العقوبات : أ- يجب على الطرفين أن يقوموا بكل أمر حكومي إذا
- Article 63
The article prohibits putting dates in transfers ahead of their true date, and treats that as forgery if it occurs.
تقديم التواريخ في التحاويل عن تاريخها الحقيقي ممنوع وإن حصل يعد ذلك تزويرا .
- Article 138
The article punishes a merchant who reneges on a valid sale after giving the release order, even in collusion with the warehouse keeper, by requiring delivery and imprisonment of one to three months.
كل تاجر باع شيئا من أمواله وأموال موكله التي هي تحت تصرفه بيعا صحيحا ثم أعطى للمشتري سند الفسح ( الستمى ) باستلامه من المخزن ثم نكث عن بيعه وعارض في تسليم المبي
- Article 140
The article punishes anyone who changes words or inserts phrases in a signed or sealed bond or a commercial book through embezzlement and forgery by imprisonment of three months to a year or a fine.
من أساء الاستعمال في سند أو ورقة فيها ختم أو إمضاء أو في دفتر تجاري بتبديل كلمات أو إدخال عبارات تقضى تعهد أو إبراء على وجه الاختلاس والتزوير يعاقب بالحبس من ثل
- Article 141
This article prevents an agent or broker from buying his principal's property for himself without the owner's permission and knowledge, treats him as an embezzler, and punishes him with imprisonment from one month to one year or a fine.
لا يسوغ للوكيل بالعموم ولا للدلال أن يشتري من نفسه لنفسه مال موكله ما لم يكن بإذن المالك واطلاعه وإذا فعل ذلك بدون دراية صاحب المال أو المالك اختلاسا لترقي الأس
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.