Article 71 of the Saudi Counter-Terrorism Crimes and Financing Law
المادة 71 من نظام مكافحة جرائم الإرهاب وتمويله · الفصل السادس: التدابير
Article 71 prohibits tipping off a customer or anyone else that a report was submitted or an investigation exists, and exempts the entities and their staff from liability toward the person reported when they report in good faith.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- يُحظر على المؤسسات المالية، والأعمال والمهن غير المالية المحددة، والمنظمات غير الهادفة إلى الربح، وأي من مديريها أو أعضاء مجالس إداراتها أو أعضاء إداراتها التنفيذية أو الإشرافية أو العاملين فيها؛ تنبيه العميل أو أي شخص آخر بأن تقريراً بموجب النظام أو معلومات متعلّقة بذلك قد قُدّمت أو سوف تُقدّم إلى الإدارة العامة للتحريات المالية أو أنّ تحقيقاً جنائيًّا جارٍ أو قد أُجري. ولا يشمل ذلك عمليات الإفصاح أو الاتصال بين المديرين والعاملين أو عمليات الاتصال مع المحامين أو السلطات المختصة.
2- لا يترتب على المؤسسات المالية، والأعمال والمهن غير المالية المحددة، والمنظمات غير الهادفة إلى الربح، وأي من مديريها أو أعضاء مجالس إداراتها أو أعضاء إداراتها التنفيذية أو الإشرافية أو العاملين فيها؛ أي مسؤولية تجاه المُبلغ عنه عند إبلاغ الإدارة العامة للتحريات المالية أو تقديم معلومات لها بحسن نية.
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 71 explained in plain English
This article complements the duty to report in Article 70 with two corresponding provisions:
First: the prohibition on tipping off
Financial institutions, designated non-financial businesses and professions, and non-profit organizations, and their managers, board members, executive or supervisory management members and employees, are prohibited from tipping off the customer or any other person that:
- a report or information relating to him has been or will be submitted to the General Directorate of Financial Intelligence, or
- a criminal investigation is ongoing or has been conducted.
The prohibition does not cover:
- Disclosure or communication between managers and employees.
- Communication with lawyers.
- Communication with the competent authorities.
Second: exemption from liability
No liability arises for these entities or the persons mentioned in them toward the person reported when they notify the Directorate or provide it with information, provided this is done in good faith.
The aim is to protect the confidentiality of the investigation on the one hand, and to reassure the reporting employee on the other. A person facing a situation of this kind would do well to consult a lawyer who specializes in criminal cases or banking compliance.
Practical example
A bank employee filed a report on a customer's suspicious transaction, and the customer then asked him why his transaction was delayed. The employee may not tell him about the report, but he can discuss the matter with his manager or the bank's lawyer. If he reported in good faith, he is not liable toward the customer.
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 71 of the Saudi Counter-Terrorism Crimes and Financing Law
Will the bank tell me if it reported me to financial intelligence?
No. The article prohibits the bank and its employees from tipping off the customer or any other person that a report was or will be submitted or that a criminal investigation is ongoing.
Is an employee liable if he reports a customer who is later found innocent?
The article negates any liability toward the person reported when the report or the provision of information was in good faith.
May an employee tell the company's lawyer about the report?
Yes. The prohibition does not cover communication with lawyers, between managers and employees, or with the competent authorities.
More articles on Duties of Financial Institutions and Reporting
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- Article 63
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على المؤسسات المالية، والأعمال والمهن غير المالية المحددة، والمنظمات غير الهادفة إلى الربح؛ تحديد و فهم مخاطر تمويل الإرهاب لديها وتقييمها وتوثيقها وتحديثها بشك
- Article 64
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على المؤسسات المالية، والأعمال والمهن غير المالية المحددة؛ اتخاذ تدابير العناية الواجبة، وتحديد نطاقها على أساس مستوى مخاطر تمويل الإرهاب المرتبطة بالعملاء وعلا
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1- على المؤسسات المالية، والأعمال والمهن غير المالية المحددة؛ الاحتفاظ بجميع السجلات والمستندات والوثائق والبيانات بما فيها مستندات تدابير العناية الواجبة، لجمي
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على المؤسسات المالية، والأعمال والمهن غير المالية المحددة؛ تطبيق تدابير العناية الواجبة المشددة على علاقات العمل والمعاملات مع أي شخص يأتي من بلد أو يقيم فيه تم
- Article 67
Article 67 requires financial institutions, designated non-financial businesses and professions, and non-profit organizations to set and effectively implement policies, procedures and controls to combat terrorist financing, with their content left to the Regulations.
على المؤسسات المالية، والأعمال والمهن غير المالية المحددة، والمنظمات غير الهادفة إلى الربح وضع السياسات والإجراءات والضوابط وتنفيذها بفعالية لمكافحة تمويل الإره
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.