Article 145 of the Saudi Commercial Court Law
المادة 145 من النظام التجاري نظام المحكمة التجارية · الفصل الحادي عشر: في العقوبات
This article punishes a money changer who pays filed-down or short coins or commits any kind of fraud and embezzlement by closing his shop for a month the first time, and imprisonment from one month to three months if he repeats it.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
كل صراف يدفع نقودا مبرودة أو ناقصة، أو يرتكب أي نوع من أنواع الغش والاختلاس يجازى في أول مرة بإغلاق محله شهرا، وإذا عاد لذلك يحبس من شهر إلى ثلاثة أشهر.
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 145 explained in plain English
This article punishes the violating money changer.
The punishable acts:
- Paying filed-down or short coins.
- Committing any kind of fraud and embezzlement.
The graduated penalty:
- The first time: closing his shop for a month.
- If he repeats it: imprisonment from one month to three months.
The first penalty affects the money changer's business directly by closing his shop, and it is a deterrent because a money changer depends on his daily work. If he is not deterred, the penalty moves to imprisonment.
Filed-down coins are those from which part of the metal has been filed away, and short coins are those whose weight has been reduced. The text then covers any kind of fraud and embezzlement, so it is not limited to a particular form.
Article 146 follows, dealing with a more serious case: a money changer who pays or deals in counterfeit coins knowing of them, with intent to deceive, whose penalty is imprisonment from three months to one year. Before it, Article 144 punishes a broker who violates his duties with exclusion from the profession.
If you were subjected to fraud by a money changer, consult a lawyer who specializes in criminal cases.
Practical example
A money changer in Jeddah deliberately gave a customer less than he was owed in a currency exchange. Under this article his shop is closed for a month the first time, and if he repeats it he is imprisoned for one to three months.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
How we write and review contentCriminal Law lawyers: ask a specialist about your case
Describe your situation briefly and we'll suggest a lawyer who specialises in this law
Criminal Law lawyers
Lawyers who handle this kind of case
Ibrahim Al Salem Law Firm
Active contributor
Dr. Ali Al-Rubaie Law Office and Ittihad Al-Asr Legal Company
Frequently asked questions about Article 145 of the Saudi Commercial Court Law
What is the penalty for a money changer who cheats the first time?
Closing his shop for a month.
What if the money changer repeats the fraud?
He is imprisoned for one month to three months.
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 139
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.
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 إبر
- 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
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.