Article 32 of the Saudi Enforcement Law before the Board of Grievances
المادة 32 من نظام التنفيذ أمام ديوان المظالم · الباب الرابع: الجرائم والعقوبات
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 نشره في أي وسيلة أخرى مناسبة، على أن يكون نشر الحكم بعد اكتسابه الصفة النهائية.
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 32 explained in plain English
This article adds to the principal penalties the possibility of publishing the judgment, and sets clear rules for it:
- Discretionary for the court: the court may include in the penalty judgment a provision for publication; it is not mandatory.
- What is published? A summary of the judgment, not its full text.
- At whose expense? At the expense of the convicted person.
- Where? In a local newspaper published in the convicted person's place of residence; if there is none there, in the nearest area to him, or by any other suitable means.
- When? After the judgment becomes final.
This article is in Chapter Four on offenses and penalties, after Article 31, which punishes anyone who participates in the offenses of Article 30 with the penalty set for them. It is followed by Article 33, which treats the offenses of Article 30 as corruption offenses and as serious offenses requiring detention.
The phrase "any other suitable means" leaves the court flexibility in choosing the means of publication rather than being limited to print newspapers.
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 final judgment was issued punishing a public employee who deliberately refused to enforce an administrative judgment, and the judgment provided for publishing its summary. The summary is published at the employee's expense in a local newspaper published in the city where he resides, or in the nearest area if there is no newspaper there, or by another suitable means.
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 32 of the Saudi Enforcement Law before the Board of Grievances
Is the judgment against an employee who refuses to enforce judgments published?
The court may include in the penalty judgment a provision for publishing its summary at the expense of the convicted person.
When is the penalty judgment published?
After the judgment becomes final.
Where is the summary of the judgment published?
In a local newspaper published in the convicted person's place of residence, or in the nearest area to him if there is none, or by any other suitable means.
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 31
The article punishes anyone who participates in committing an offense under Article 30 with the penalty set for that same offense.
يعاقب كل من اشترك في ارتكاب جريمة من الجرائم المنصوص عليها في المادة (الثلاثين) من النظام بالعقوبة المقررة لتلك الجريمة.
- 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.