Article 146 of the Saudi Commercial Court Law
المادة 146 من النظام التجاري نظام المحكمة التجارية · الفصل الحادي عشر: في العقوبات
This article punishes a money changer who pays or deals in counterfeit coins knowing of them, with intent to deceive, with imprisonment from three months to one year.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
كل صراف يدفع أو يتعاطى نقودا زائفة وهو يعلم بها على وجه التدليس يعاقب بالحبس من ثلاثة أشهر إلى سنة.
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 146 explained in plain English
This article punishes a money changer's dealing in counterfeit coins.
The act: the money changer pays or deals in counterfeit coins.
The two conditions:
- He must be aware of them, meaning he knows they are counterfeit.
- It must be with intent to deceive.
The penalty: imprisonment from three months to one year.
Note that the penalty here is more severe than that of Article 145 before it, which punishes a money changer who pays filed-down or short coins or commits fraud and embezzlement with closing his shop for a month the first time, and imprisonment from one month to three months on repetition. Dealing in counterfeit coins knowingly is punished with imprisonment from the first time.
The condition of knowledge is important: a money changer through whose hands counterfeit coins pass without his knowing does not fall within the text of this article. What is required is that he knows of them and deals in them with intent to deceive.
Article 147 follows, punishing every merchant who violates the requirement of Article 5.
If you received counterfeit coins from a money changer, or an accusation of that was made against you, consult a lawyer who specializes in criminal cases.
Practical example
A money changer in Riyadh bought counterfeit banknotes cheaply and began paying them out to customers in exchange transactions, knowing they were counterfeit. Under this article he is punished with imprisonment from three months to one year.
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 146 of the Saudi Commercial Court Law
What is the penalty for a money changer who deals in counterfeit money?
If he pays or deals in counterfeit coins knowing of them, with intent to deceive, he is punished with imprisonment from three months to one year.
Is a money changer punished if he did not know the money was counterfeit?
The text requires that he be aware of it and that it be with intent to deceive.
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.