Article 15 of the Saudi Elderly Rights and Care Law

This article sets three prohibitions to protect the elderly person, two addressed to the caregiver and the third to anyone entrusted with authority to deal with the property:

1. Dealing with the elderly person's property without their consent: this is prohibited for the caregiver, and what counts is the consent of the elderly person themselves; the text does not require intent here.
2. Intentionally failing to protect the rights and care of the needy elderly person: this is prohibited for the caregiver, and the text requires that the failure be intentional.
3. Intentionally mismanaging the elderly person's property: this is prohibited for anyone entrusted with authority to deal with it, whether the caregiver or someone else, and intent is also required.

The caregiver, under Article 1, is the person who cares for the needy elderly person and safeguards their rights, and the rights of the elderly person include their financial, physical, social and moral rights.

Article 16 attaches to breach of this article one or more of the following penalties: imprisonment for up to one year and a fine of up to SAR 500,000, with the penalty possibly doubled in case of repeat offense, up to twice the maximum. But paragraph 2 of Article 16 provides that paragraph 1 does not apply if the caregiver is the father or the wife.

This article follows Article 14, which regulates guardianship over the person and property of elderly people who lack or have diminished capacity. Anyone whose relative has been subjected to any of this, or who has been accused under this article, should consult a lawyer specializing in criminal cases.