Article 59 of the Saudi Counter-Terrorism Crimes and Financing Law
المادة 59 من نظام مكافحة جرائم الإرهاب وتمويله · الفصل الخامس: المصادرة
Article 59 provides for confiscating, by judicial ruling, other funds equal in value to the funds, instrumentalities or proceeds if they cannot be confiscated under Article 58 or their location cannot be determined.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
إذا تعذر مصادرة الأموال أو الوسائط أو المتحصلات وفقاً للمادة (الثامنة والخمسين) من النظام أو لم يمكن تحديد مكانها، فتصادر بحكم قضائي أي أموال أخرى تعادل قيمة تلك الأموال أو الوسائط أو المتحصلات.
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 59 explained in plain English
This article deals with a case where it is not possible to reach the funds sought to be confiscated, and provides for what is known as confiscation of equivalent value.
When does it apply? In one of two cases:
- If it is not possible to confiscate the funds, instrumentalities or proceeds under Article 58.
- Or if their location cannot be determined.
What is the rule? Any other funds equal in value to those funds, instrumentalities or proceeds are confiscated by judicial ruling.
Article 58, to which this article refers, provides for confiscating the proceeds, instrumentalities, and funds connected to the Law's crimes or prepared for use in them, by judicial ruling and regardless of whether they are in the possession or ownership of the offender or another party, without prejudice to the rights of bona fide third parties. Article 59 thus complements Article 58 so that a person who hid the funds or disposed of them does not escape confiscation.
It is followed by Article 60, which bars confiscation of funds, instrumentalities or proceeds where their owner proves that he obtained them for a fair price, in exchange for a service commensurate with their value, or on other lawful grounds, and that he was unaware of their unlawful source.
A person whose funds face confiscation under this article should consult a lawyer who specializes in criminal cases.
Practical example
It was established that a person obtained a sum from a terrorist financing crime and then moved it to an unknown party, and the authorities could not determine its location. In this case, other funds of his, such as a balance in another account or real estate, may be confiscated by judicial ruling in an amount equal to the value of that sum.
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 59 of the Saudi Counter-Terrorism Crimes and Financing Law
What happens if the funds of a terrorist crime cannot be found?
If it is not possible to confiscate them or their location cannot be determined, any other funds equal in value are confiscated by judicial ruling.
Does confiscating the equivalent value require a judicial ruling?
Yes. The text requires that the confiscation of the other funds be by judicial ruling.
What is the relationship between Article 59 and Article 58?
Article 58 sets out what is confiscated of proceeds, instrumentalities and connected funds, and Article 59 applies if their confiscation under Article 58 is not possible or their location cannot be determined.
Articles this article refers to
More articles on Precautionary Attachment and Confiscation of Funds
- Article 9
Article 9 allows the Public Prosecution, and the head of State Security at the evidence-gathering stage, to order urgent precautionary seizure, without notifying the person concerned, of funds, instrumentalities or proceeds suspected of being linked to crimes under the Law.
1- للنيابة العامة أن تأمـر الجهة المختصة بالحجـز التـحـفـظي -بـصـورة عاجـلة دون إبلاغ الطرف المعني- على الأموال أو الوسائط أو المتحصلات التي يشتبه ارتباطها بأي
- Article 22
Article 22 gives the Public Prosecution the power to identify and trace the funds, instrumentalities and proceeds that may be subject to confiscation, without prejudice to the rights of bona fide third parties.
دون الإخلال بحقوق الغير الحسن النية، تتولى النيابة العامة صلاحية تحديد الأموال والوسائط والمتحصلات التي قد تخضع للمصادرة وتعقّبها.
- Article 28
Article 28 requires the competent authority to execute an order for precautionary seizure of funds, proceeds or instrumentalities urgently.
على الجهة المختصة تنفيذ الأمر الصادر بالحجز التحفظي على الأموال أو المتحصلات أو الوسائط بصورة عاجلة.
- Article 58
Article 58 provides for confiscation by judicial ruling of the proceeds, instrumentalities and funds connected to crimes under the Law or prepared for them, even if held by someone other than the offender, without prejudice to the rights of bona fide third parties.
مع عدم الإخلال بحقوق الغير الحسن النية، يصادر بحكم قضائي -بصرف النظر عمّا إذا كانت في حيازة أو ملكية الجاني أو طرف آخر- ما يلي: 1- المتحصلات. فإن اختلطت بأموال
- Article 60
Article 60 bars confiscation of funds, instrumentalities or proceeds if their owner proves he obtained them for a fair price, for a service commensurate with their value, or on other lawful grounds, and was unaware of their unlawful source.
لا تجوز مصادرة الأموال أو الوسائط أو المتحصلات متى أثبت صاحبها أنّه حصل عليها لقاء ثمن عادل أو مقابل تقديمه خدمة تتناسب مع قيمتها أو حصل عليها بناءً على أسباب م
- Article 61
Article 61 allows the Specialized Criminal Court to annul or prevent any act whose parties know it weakens the authorities' ability to recover funds subject to confiscation.
للمحكمة المختصة من تلقاء نفسها أو بناءً على طلب إبطال أو منع أي إجراء أو عمل -تعاقدي أو غير تعاقدي- إذا علم أطرافه أو أحدهم أو كان لمثلهم أن يعلموا بأن أي من تل
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.