Article 28 of the Saudi Enforcement Law
المادة 28 من نظام التنفيذ · الفصل الخامس: الحجز التنفيذي
The article requires the court to refer to the investigating authority any concealment, smuggling or dissipation of the debtor's property or provision of misleading information, without stopping enforcement.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
إذا توافر لدى المحكمة أدلة أو قرائن تدل على ارتكاب المنفذ ضده أو غيره سلوكًا جرميًّا بإخفاء أموال المنفذ ضده أو تهريبها أو تبديدها أو تقديم بيانات أو معلومات مضللة أو غير صحيحة أمام المحكمة؛ فتحيل الواقعة إلى الجهة المختصة بالتحقيق لاتخاذ المقتضى النظامي وفقًا للنصوص النظامية ذات العلاقة، ولا يحول ذلك دون الاستمرار في إجراءات التنفيذ.
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 28 explained in plain English
This article links civil enforcement with criminal liability by setting out what the court must do when it sees criminal conduct obstructing enforcement.
When does it apply? When the court has evidence or indications that the enforcement debtor or another person has engaged in criminal conduct by one of the following acts:
- Concealing the enforcement debtor's property.
- Smuggling it.
- Dissipating it.
- Providing misleading or incorrect statements or information before the court.
What does the court do? It refers the incident to the authority competent to investigate so that the legally required action is taken under the relevant legal provisions.
Effect of referral on enforcement: Referral does not prevent enforcement procedures from continuing, so the satisfaction of the creditor's right does not stop pending the outcome of the investigation.
Note that the article is not limited to the enforcement debtor but also covers others who take part in these acts, such as a person to whom property is smuggled. The article itself does not specify penalties but refers to the relevant legal provisions. A person accused of such acts, or harmed by them, would do well to consult a lawyer specialized in criminal or enforcement cases.
This article follows Article 27, which governs immediate execution of attachment and the use of compulsion, and is followed by Article 29, which allows the enforcement debtor to be permitted to sell his property voluntarily.
Practical example
During enforcement of a judgment against an establishment in Jeddah, its owner submitted a statement of his property to the court, and it later emerged that he had left out bank accounts, and indications appeared that its goods had been transferred to another party. The court refers the incident to the competent investigating authority, while continuing enforcement procedures against the establishment's property.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
How we write and review contentA question about Article 28 of Enforcement Law?
Describe what happened and specialist lawyers answer. You can write in English.
- Completely free
- Lawyers from the directory answer
- Your name stays hidden
Criminal Law lawyers: ask a specialist about your case
Describe your situation briefly and we'll suggest a lawyer who specialises in this law
Criminal Law lawyers
Lawyers who handle this kind of case
شركة امتداد النظام للمحاماة والاستشارات المهنية
- Labour & Employment Law
- Criminal Law
- Criminal Law
- Commercial & Corporate Law
Frequently asked questions about Article 28 of the Saudi Enforcement Law
Is a debtor concealing his property a crime?
The article provides that if there is evidence or indications of concealing, smuggling or dissipating the enforcement debtor's property, the court refers the incident to the competent investigating authority to take the legally required action.
Does enforcement stop if the debtor is referred for investigation?
No. Referral does not prevent enforcement procedures from continuing.
Does the referral cover someone other than the debtor?
Yes. The article covers conduct by the enforcement debtor or another person involving concealment, smuggling, dissipation or providing misleading information.
More articles on Enforcement Offenses and Penalties
- Article 48
The competent court hears actions over enforcement offenses and imposes their penalties, except as in paragraph (1) of Article 57, while the investigating and prosecuting authority handles investigation and prosecution.
1- فيما عدا ما ورد في الفقرة (1) من المادة (السابعة والخمسين) من النظام، تتولى المحكمة المختصة النظر في الدعاوى الناشئة من تطبيق الأحكام الواردة في هذا الباب وإ
- Article 49
Enforcement offenses are detected by employees of the Ministry or public bodies whom the Minister designates by decision and who have judicial officer capacity, while the court may still refer matters directly for investigation.
1- دون إخلال بالأحكام النظامية ذات العلاقة، يتولى ضبط الجرائم -المنصوص عليها في هذا الباب- موظفون أو عاملون من: الوزارة، أو من أي من الجهات العامة الأخرى، الذين
- Article 50
Whoever conceals or smuggles property, deliberately obstructs or resists enforcement, or gives misleading information is punished by up to 3 years' imprisonment and a fine of up to SAR 1,000,000, or either; so is an accomplice.
1- يعاقب بالسجن مدة لا تزيد على (ثلاث) سنـوات وبغرامة لا تزيد على (مليون) ريال، أو بإحدى هاتين العقوبتين؛ كل من ارتكب أيًّا من الجرائم الآتية: أ- إخفاء الأموال،
- Article 51
A public employee or equivalent who prevents or obstructs enforcement is punished by imprisonment of not more than 5 years, and the act is an offense involving breach of trust.
يعاقب بالسجن مدة لا تزيد على (خمس) سنوات الموظف العام ومن في حكمه إذا منع التنفيذ أو أعاقه، ويُعد ذلك جريمة من الجرائم المخلة بالأمانة.
- Article 52
A debtor proven to have dissipated substantial property is punished by imprisonment of not more than 15 years even if he is shown to be insolvent, and the offense is a major one warranting detention.
1- يعاقب بالسجن مدة لا تزيد على (خمس عشرة) سنة كل مدين ثبت قيامه بتبديد أمواله إذا كانت الأموال كثيرة ولو ثبت إعساره، ويُعد ذلك من الجرائم الكبيرة الموجبة للتوق
- Article 53
Imprisonment of up to 3 years and a fine of up to SAR 100,000, or either, applies to a malicious enforcement applicant, someone who discloses data on the debtor's property, a breaching service provider and anyone manipulating sale prices.
يعاقب بالسجن مدة لا تزيد على (ثلاث) سنوات، وبغرامة لا تزيد على (مائة ألف) ريال، أو بإحدى هاتين العقوبتين؛ كلٌّ من: 1- طالب التنفيذ إذا تقدم بطلب إجراء من إجراءا
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.