Article 30 of the Saudi Enforcement Law before the Board of Grievances

This article is the criminal safeguard for enforcing judgments and instruments before the Board of Grievances, and it makes the public employee personally liable, without prejudice to any other penalty in another law.

First offense: abuse of influence

• The employee uses his influence or official authority to prevent enforcement of the instrument, in whole or in part, intending to obstruct its enforcement.
• Penalty: imprisonment for a period not exceeding 7 years and a fine not exceeding SAR 700,000, or either.

Second offense: deliberate refusal

• He deliberately refrains from enforcing the instrument, in whole or in part, intending to obstruct its enforcement.
• After 8 days have passed from his being notified of the notice provided for in Article 10, or from the enforcement procedures following the notice reaching him.
• And enforcement is within his competence.
• Penalty: imprisonment for a period not exceeding 5 years and a fine not exceeding SAR 500,000, or either.

The notice meant is the one the Enforcement Circuit issues to the administrative body under Article 10 to enforce within a period not exceeding 5 days for urgent judgments and 30 days for others.

The second paragraph also provides for applying the penalties for offenses set out in the Enforcement Law where they occur in connection with enforcing an instrument covered by this Law, without detailing them in this article. It is followed by Article 31, which punishes anyone who participates in these offenses with the penalty set for them.

Because the outcome in each incident depends on its details, anyone facing an accusation or wanting to report such an incident would do well to consult a lawyer specialized in criminal and administrative cases.