Article 4 of the Saudi Counter-Terrorism Crimes and Financing Law
المادة 4 من نظام مكافحة جرائم الإرهاب وتمويله · الفصل الثالث: الإجراءات
Article 4 gives the Presidency of State Security the tasks of criminal arrest and evidence gathering, financial investigation and tracing a suspect's funds and the proceeds and instrumentalities of crime under the Law.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تتولى رئاسة أمن الدولة مهام الضبط الجنائي والاستدلال بما في ذلك البحث والتحري والضبط والملاحقة الجنائية والإدارية وجمع الأدلة والقرائن والتحري المالي والعمليات ذات الطابع السري، وكذلك تحديد وتعقب وضبط وتحريز أموال المشتبه به ومتحصلات الجريمة أو وسائطها في الجرائم المنصوص عليها في 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 4 explained in plain English
This article names the body that handles the first stage of dealing with terrorism and terrorism financing crimes: the Presidency of State Security.
The tasks the Presidency carries out include:
- Criminal arrest and evidence gathering, including searching, investigating and arresting.
- Criminal and administrative prosecution.
- Collecting evidence and indications.
- Financial investigation, and covert operations.
- Identifying the suspect's funds and the proceeds or instrumentalities of the crime, tracing them, seizing them and securing them.
The meaning of proceeds and instrumentalities is understood from Article 1: proceeds are funds arising from the crime even if converted or exchanged, and instrumentalities are anything prepared, used or intended to be used in committing it. This means the Presidency's work is not limited to tracking people but extends to tracking the funds linked to the crime.
It is followed by Article 5, which gives the Public Prosecution the power to issue the summons and the arrest and bring order, so the two articles divide the roles between the evidence-gathering body and the investigating body. Anyone subjected to one of these procedures would do well to consult a lawyer specializing in criminal cases.
Practical example
The evidence-gathering authorities observe repeated transfers suspected of going to a group that aims to commit a terrorist crime. Under this article, the Presidency of State Security carries out the financial investigation into these transfers, traces the funds linked to them, seizes and secures them, and collects evidence about the suspected persons.
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 4 of the Saudi Counter-Terrorism Crimes and Financing Law
Which body is responsible for investigating terrorism crimes in Saudi Arabia?
The Presidency of State Security handles criminal arrest and evidence gathering, including searching, investigating, collecting evidence and financial investigation.
Can the Presidency of State Security trace a suspect's funds?
Yes. The article provides that it identifies the suspect's funds and the proceeds or instrumentalities of the crime, and traces, seizes and secures them.
More articles on Arrest and Search in Terrorism Crimes
- Article 5
Article 5 gives the Public Prosecution the power to issue a summons or an arrest and bring order against a suspect, and bars keeping an arrested person detained more than 7 days without a written order.
تختص النيابة العامة بإصدار تكليف بالحضور أو أمر بالقبض والإحضار على من يشتبه في ارتكابه أيًّا من الجرائم المنصوص عليها في النظام. وفي جميع الأحوال لا يجوز إبقاء
- Article 6
Article 6 lets the Public Prosecution, and the Presidency of State Security at the evidence-gathering stage, request records and information from any person or institution, and requires fast, accurate execution and confidentiality.
1- للنيابة العامة -من تلقاء نفسها أو بناءً على طلب رجل الضبط الـجنائي- أن تطلب من أي شخص أو من المؤسسات المالية، أو الأعمال والمهن غير المالية المحددة، أو المنظ
- Article 7
Article 7 gives the Public Prosecution the power to authorize entering and searching homes, offices and buildings, and arrest and seizure, and allows acting without authorization in necessity with a record and notice to the Prosecution within 24 hours.
1- تختص النيابة العامة بإصدار إذن بدخول المساكن أو المكاتب أو المباني وتفتيشها في أي وقت خلال المدة المحددة في إذن التفتيش والقبض على الأشخاص وضبط وتحريز الأموا
- Article 8
Article 8 allows the Attorney General to issue a reasoned order to monitor, access, intercept, seize and record evidence, records, messages, means of communication and electronic information linked to crimes under the Law.
للنائب العام أن يصدر أمراً مُسبباً بالمراقبة والوصول إلى الأدلة والسجلات والرسائل -بما فيها الخطابات والمطبوعات والطرود وسائر وسائل الاتصال والمعلومات والمستندا
- Article 15
Article 15 allows criminal investigation officers and military personnel assigned to combat crimes under the Law to use force to apprehend those crimes, under the rules set by law.
لرجال الضبط الجنائي أو العسكريين المكلفين بمكافحة الجرائم المنصوص عليها في النظام في سبيل ضبط أي من تلك الجرائم استعمال القوة وفقاً للضوابط المنصوص عليها نظاماً
- Article 17
Article 17 requires Customs, when terrorist financing is suspected, to seize currency, bearer instruments, gold, precious metals, gems and jewelry whatever their value, and refer them and their carrier immediately.
مع عدم الإخلال بالأحكام ذات الصلة بمصلحة الجمارك العامة الواردة في نظام مكافحة غسل الأموال؛ تقوم المصلحة -عند الاشتباه بوجود حالة تمويل الإرهاب- بحجز ما يشتبه ب
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.