Article 265 of the Saudi Companies Law
المادة 265 من نظام الشركات · الباب الثالث عشر: العقوبات
The article makes the Public Prosecution the authority competent for investigation and prosecution of the offenses in Articles 260 and 261 of the Companies Law.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تختص النيابة العامة بالتحقيق والادعاء في الجرائم المنصوص عليها في المادتين (الستين بعد المائتين) و(الحادية والستين بعد المائتين) من 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 265 explained in plain English
This article specifies the authority that conducts investigation and prosecution of the Companies Law's offenses, which is the Public Prosecution.
Its jurisdiction here is limited to the offenses provided for in:
- Article 260 of the Law;
- Article 261 of the Law.
This article does not mention the violations in Article 262 as within the Public Prosecution's jurisdiction; it limits jurisdiction to the offenses of Articles 260 and 261.
"Investigation and prosecution" means that the Public Prosecution is the body that investigates the incident, and the one that brings the criminal case and pleads it as the prosecuting authority. Article 264 allows the competent judicial authority to take, for these offenses, in addition to the penalties or instead of them, measures such as a warning, requiring corrective steps, or a ban from membership of the board of a listed joint stock company. The court that hears the cases is specified by Article 266.
Anyone who believes one of these offenses has occurred in their company, or who faces an investigation about it, should use a lawyer specializing in criminal matters and company matters.
Practical example
Shareholders in a company in Riyadh suspected that a board member had committed an act falling within the offenses provided for in Article 260 of the Law. The authority competent to investigate this incident and prosecute it is the Public Prosecution.
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 265 of the Saudi Companies Law
Who investigates the Companies Law's offenses?
The Public Prosecution is competent for investigation and prosecution of the offenses provided for in Articles 260 and 261 of the Law.
Is the Public Prosecution competent for the violations in Article 262?
The article limits the Public Prosecution's jurisdiction to the offenses provided for in Articles 260 and 261, and does not mention the violations of Article 262.
Articles this article refers to
- Article 260
The article punishes with up to 3 years in prison and a fine of up to SAR 5,000,000, or either, anyone who falsifies a company's financial data, uses its funds and powers against its interests, or a liquidator who abuses his role.
دون إخلال بأي عقوبة ينص عليها نظام آخر، يعاقب بالسجن مدة لا تزيد على (ثلاث) سنوات وبغرامة لا تزيد على (5,000,000) خمسة ملايين ريال، أو بإحدى هاتين العقوبتين: أ-
- Article 261
The article punishes with up to 1 year in prison and a fine of up to SAR 1,000,000, or either, acts including buying votes, distributing profits in bad faith, disclosing secrets and overstating the value of stakes.
دون إخلال بأي عقوبة ينص عليها نظام آخر، يعاقب بالسجن مدة لا تزيد على (سنة) وبغرامة لا تزيد على (1,000,000) مليون ريال، أو بإحدى هاتين العقوبتين: أ- كل مراجع للح
More articles on Penalties under the Companies Law
- Article 240
The article makes a foreign company and those who carried on its activity jointly liable if it operated before completing licensing and commercial register registration or went beyond what it was licensed for.
إذا زاولت الشركة الأجنبية نشاطها وأعمالها قبل استيفائها إجراءات الترخيص، إن وجدت، وقيدها لدى السجل التجاري، أو قامت بأعمال تجاوزت المرخص لها فيها، كانت الشركة و
- Article 260
The article punishes with up to 3 years in prison and a fine of up to SAR 5,000,000, or either, anyone who falsifies a company's financial data, uses its funds and powers against its interests, or a liquidator who abuses his role.
دون إخلال بأي عقوبة ينص عليها نظام آخر، يعاقب بالسجن مدة لا تزيد على (ثلاث) سنوات وبغرامة لا تزيد على (5,000,000) خمسة ملايين ريال، أو بإحدى هاتين العقوبتين: أ-
- Article 261
The article punishes with up to 1 year in prison and a fine of up to SAR 1,000,000, or either, acts including buying votes, distributing profits in bad faith, disclosing secrets and overstating the value of stakes.
دون إخلال بأي عقوبة ينص عليها نظام آخر، يعاقب بالسجن مدة لا تزيد على (سنة) وبغرامة لا تزيد على (1,000,000) مليون ريال، أو بإحدى هاتين العقوبتين: أ- كل مراجع للح
- Article 262
The article punishes with a fine of up to SAR 500,000 administrative and regulatory violations, including obstructing assemblies, neglecting records and financial statements, and failing to register in the commercial register.
دون إخلال بأي عقوبة ينص عليها نظام آخر، يعاقب بغرامة لا تزيد على (500,000) خمسمائة ألف ريال: أ- كل من تسبب في تعطيل دعوة الجمعية العامة للشركاء أو المساهمين أو
- Article 263
The article requires taking into account the seriousness, circumstances and effects of the offense or violation when setting the penalty, and doubles the penalties for offenses under Articles 260 and 261 on repetition within 3 years.
1- يراعى في تحديد العقوبة جسامة الجريمة أو المخالفة، وظروفها، وملابساتها، وآثارها. 2- تضاعف في حالة العود العقوبات المقررة على الجرائم المنصوص عليها في المادتين
- Article 264
The article allows the competent judicial authority to take measures such as a warning, requiring correction and a ban from the board of a listed company, in addition to the penalties of Articles 260 and 261 or instead of them.
1- للجهة القضائية المختصة أن تتخذ بالإضافة إلى العقوبات المقررة في المادتين (الستين بعد المائتين) و(الحادية والستين بعد المائتين) من النظام، أو بدلًا عنها؛ أيًّ
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.