Article 9 of the Saudi Counter-Terrorism Crimes and Financing Law
المادة 9 من نظام مكافحة جرائم الإرهاب وتمويله · الفصل الثالث: الإجراءات
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 من الجرائم المنصوص عليها في النظام أو ستستخدم فيها والتي قد تكون محلاً للمصادرة.
2- لرئيس أمن الدولة -في مرحلة الاستدلال- أن يأمر الجهة المختصة بالحجز التحفظي بصورة عاجلة ودون إبلاغ الطرف المعني على الأموال أو الوسائط أو المتحصلات التي يشتبه ارتباطها بأي من الجرائم المنصوص عليها في النظام أو ستستخدم فيها والتي قد تكون محلاً للمصادرة.
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 9 explained in plain English
This article governs precautionary seizure, which under Article 1 is a temporary ban on transferring, converting, disposing of, moving or taking possession of funds. It differs from confiscation, which is permanent deprivation by judicial judgment.
Under this article, the power to order seizure belongs to:
- The Public Prosecution, which orders the competent authority to carry out the seizure.
- The head of State Security, but at the evidence-gathering stage.
In both cases the seizure has two features: it is carried out urgently, and without notifying the party concerned, so the owner of the funds may not know of the seizure in advance.
The seizure applies to funds, instrumentalities or proceeds that meet the following conditions:
- They are suspected of being linked to any of the crimes under the Law, or of being going to be used in them.
- They are of a kind that may be subject to confiscation.
"Funds" in the definition in Article 1 is very broad, covering physical and non-physical assets, transfers, securities, and electronic or digital systems. Anyone whose funds have been seized would do well to consult a lawyer specializing in criminal cases to learn his or her position.
Practical example
Khaled is surprised to find his bank account will not accept any transfer, then learns that an order of precautionary seizure was issued against it without notifying him, on suspicion that sums in it are linked to terrorism financing. This seizure is temporary by nature and does not mean confiscation, because confiscation can only be by judicial judgment.
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 9 of the Saudi Counter-Terrorism Crimes and Financing Law
Can my funds be seized without notifying me?
Yes. The article allows an urgent order of precautionary seizure, without notifying the party concerned, over funds suspected of being linked to crimes under the Law.
Who may order precautionary seizure in terrorism cases?
The Public Prosecution, and the head of State Security at the evidence-gathering stage; each orders the competent authority to carry out the seizure.
Does precautionary seizure mean confiscation of funds?
No. Precautionary seizure is a temporary ban, while confiscation is permanent deprivation that can only be by judicial judgment, under the definitions in Article 1.
More articles on Precautionary Attachment and Confiscation of Funds
- 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 59
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.
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 تل
- 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.