Article 79 of the Saudi Counter-Terrorism Crimes and Financing Law
المادة 79 من نظام مكافحة جرائم الإرهاب وتمويله · الفصل الثامن: الإدارة العامة للتحريات المالية
The Article allows the General Directorate of Financial Intelligence to refer information and the results of its analysis to the competent authority when it assesses that there is suspicion of terrorism financing, and affirms its freedom and independence of decision in doing so.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
للإدارة العامة للتحريات المالية -من تلقاء نفسها أو عند الطلب- إحالة المعلومات ونتائج تحليلها إلى الجهة المختصة عندما تقدر بأن هناك أسباباً للاشتباه بأنّ معاملة ما مرتبطة بجريمة تمويل إرهاب، وللإدارة كذلك صلاحية تنفيذ اختصاصاتها بحرية بما فيها اتخاذ قرار مستقل بتحليل معلومات معينة وطلبها أو إعادة توجيهها أو إحالتها.
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 79 explained in plain English
This Article explains what happens after the General Directorate of Financial Intelligence analyzes the information it holds, and contains two provisions:
First: Referral
- The Directorate may refer information and the results of its analysis to the competent authority.
- Referral takes place on its own initiative or on request.
- Its condition is that the Directorate assesses that there are grounds for suspicion that a transaction is linked to the crime of terrorism financing.
Second: Freedom of action and independence
The Directorate has the power to carry out its functions freely, including making an independent decision on:
- analyzing particular information.
- requesting it.
- redirecting it.
- referring it.
Referral is therefore not automatic for every report; it rests on the Directorate's assessment that grounds for suspicion exist.
It is preceded by Article 78, which imposes confidentiality on the Directorate's employees, and followed by Article 80, which allows the Directorate to exchange the information it holds with the competent authority.
Anyone who learns of a referral concerning him would do best to consult a lawyer specializing in criminal cases.
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 79 of the Saudi Counter-Terrorism Crimes and Financing Law
When does Financial Intelligence refer information to the competent authority?
When it assesses that there are grounds for suspicion that a transaction is linked to the crime of terrorism financing, on its own initiative or on request.
Are the Directorate's decisions subject to direction by another body?
The Article provides that the Directorate may carry out its functions freely, including making an independent decision on analyzing, requesting, redirecting and referring information.
Does referral of a report mean the crime has been proven?
No. Referral rests on the existence of grounds for suspicion, and the Article does not make it evidence that a crime was committed.
More articles on Supervision and Financial Intelligence
- Article 76
The Article provides that the General Directorate of Financial Intelligence is a central national agency with sufficient operational independence that receives and analyzes reports linked to terrorism financing and refers the results to the competent authorities.
تتمتع الإدارة العامة للتحريات المالية -بوصفها جهازاً مركزياً وطنياً- باستقلالية عملية كافية, وتعمل على تلقي البلاغات والمعلومات والتقارير المرتبطة بجريمة تمويل
- Article 77
The Article authorizes the General Directorate of Financial Intelligence to obtain additional information from the reporting party, to request information through the supervisory authority where there is no report, and to obtain information held by the competent authorities.
1- للإدارة العامة للتحريات المالية الحصول مباشرة من مقدم البلاغ على أي معلومة إضافية تعينها على تحليلها، وفي الحالات التي لا تكون فيها المؤسسات المالية قد قدمت
- Article 78
The Article obliges every employee of the General Directorate of Financial Intelligence, or anyone answerable to it, to keep confidential the information they learn in performing their duties, even after their responsibilities end.
على كل موظف يعمل في الإدارة العامة للتحريات المالية، أو أي شخص مسؤول أمامها، الالتزام بسرية المعلومات التي يطلع عليها ضمن نطاق أداء واجباته حتى بعد انتهاء مسؤول
- Article 80
The Article allows the General Directorate of Financial Intelligence to exchange the information it holds with the competent authority.
للإدارة العامة للتحريات المالية أن تتبادل مع الجهة المختصّة المعلومات التي تحتفظ بها.
- Article 81
The Article allows the General Directorate of Financial Intelligence to exchange information with counterpart foreign bodies and conclude agreements with them, on condition that the foreign body undertakes to use the information only for the purpose requested.
1- للإدارة العامة للتحريات المالية أن تتبادل مع أي جهة أجنبية نظيرة أو تطلب منها أي معلومة متصلة بعملها، ولها أن تُبرم - وفقاً للإجراءات النظامية- مع أي جهة أجن
- Article 82
The Article sets out the powers of the supervisory authorities in collecting information, on-site and off-site examination, risk assessment, issuing instructions, international cooperation, integrity and suitability procedures, and keeping statistics.
تتخذ الجهات الرقابية في سبيل أدائها لمهماتها ما يأتي: 1- جمع المعلومات والبيانات من المؤسسات المالية، والأعمال والمهن غير المالية المحددة، والمنظمات غير الهادفة
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.