Article 31 of the Saudi Enforcement Law before the Board of Grievances
المادة 31 من نظام التنفيذ أمام ديوان المظالم · الباب الرابع: الجرائم والعقوبات
The article punishes anyone who participates in committing an offense under Article 30 with the penalty set for that same offense.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يعاقب كل من اشترك في ارتكاب جريمة من الجرائم المنصوص عليها في المادة (الثلاثين) من النظام بالعقوبة المقررة لتلك الجريمة.
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 31 explained in plain English
This article extends criminal liability to anyone who participates in committing the offenses of Article 30, who is punished with the penalty set for that same offense.
The offenses meant in Article 30 are:
- A public employee's abuse of his influence or official authority to prevent enforcement of the instrument, in whole or in part, intending to obstruct it, punishable by imprisonment for a period not exceeding 7 years and a fine not exceeding SAR 700,000, or either.
- A public employee's deliberate refusal to enforce the instrument, in whole or in part, intending to obstruct it, after 8 days have passed from his being notified of the notice provided for in Article 10 or the enforcement procedures following the notice reaching him, where enforcement is within his competence, punishable by imprisonment for a period not exceeding 5 years and a fine not exceeding SAR 500,000, or either.
The words "anyone who" are general, so the article does not limit the penalty for participation to public employees. The practical meaning is that a person who takes part in obstructing the enforcement of an instrument covered by these offenses does not escape punishment because he is not the principal perpetrator, but is punished with the penalty of the offense itself. What counts as participation in a particular incident is for the competent court to assess.
It is followed by Article 32, which allows the court to include in the judgment imposing the penalty a provision for publishing its summary at the expense of the convicted person, with publication to take place after the judgment becomes final.
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.
Practical example
A public employee deliberately refused to enforce a judgment within his competence, intending to obstruct it, and a colleague of his took part with him in that. If the colleague's participation is established, he is punished with the penalty set for the offense itself, that is, imprisonment for a period not exceeding 5 years and a fine not exceeding SAR 500,000, or either.
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 31 of the Saudi Enforcement Law before the Board of Grievances
Is a person who helps an employee obstruct enforcement of a judgment punished?
Yes. Anyone who participates in committing an offense under Article 30 is punished with the penalty set for that offense.
Is the participant's penalty lighter than the perpetrator's?
No. The text sets for the participant the penalty set for the offense itself.
Which offenses does the article cover?
The offenses set out in Article 30, namely a public employee's abuse of influence to prevent enforcement and his deliberate refusal to enforce intending to obstruct it.
Articles this article refers to
More articles on Penalty for Refusing to Enforce Judgments
- Article 12
The article requires an enforcement order to the administrative authority if the Article 10 period ends without enforcement or the authority states refusal, specifying the necessary procedures and notifying the competent body for criminal proceedings.
تصدر دائرة التنفيذ أمراً بالتنفيذ إلى الجهة الإدارية إذا انتهت المهلة المنصوص عليها في المادة (العاشرة) دون أن يتم التنفيذ، أو إذا صرحت خلالها الجهة بما يفيد رف
- Article 30
The article punishes with imprisonment and a fine a public employee who uses his influence to prevent enforcement of an instrument or deliberately refrains from enforcing it intending to obstruct it, and applies the penalties of the Enforcement Law's offenses where they occur.
1- دون إخلال بأي عقوبة أخرى منصوص عليها في نظام آخر، يعاقب الموظف العام: أ- إذا استغل نفوذه أو سلطته الوظيفية في منع تنفيذ السند المطلوب تنفيذه -جزئيًا أو كليًا
- Article 32
The article allows the court to provide in the penalty judgment for publishing its summary, at the expense of the convicted person, in a local newspaper or other suitable means, after the judgment becomes final.
للمحكمة تضمين الحكم الصادر بالعقوبة النص على نشر ملخصه على نفقة المحكوم عليه في صحيفة محلية تصدر في مقر إقامته، فإن لم تكن في مقره صحيفة ففي أقرب منطقة له، أو ن
- Article 33
The article treats the offenses of Article 30, relating to preventing or refusing the enforcement of instruments, as corruption offenses and as serious offenses requiring detention.
تعد الجرائم المنصوص عليها في المادة (الثلاثين) من النظام من جرائم الفساد، ومن الجرائم الكبيرة الموجبة للتوقيف.
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.