Article 48 of the Saudi Enforcement Law
المادة 48 من نظام التنفيذ · الباب السادس: العقوبات
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 وإيقاع العقوبات المقررة فيها.
2- تتولى الجهة المختصة بالتحقيق والادعاء مهمة التحقيق والادعاء أمام المحكمة المختصة عن الجرائم المنصوص عليها في هذا الباب.
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 48 explained in plain English
This article opens the penalties chapter of the Law and specifies the bodies responsible for the actions arising under it:
- The competent court: It hears the actions arising from applying the provisions in this chapter and imposes the penalties set out in it, except what is stated in paragraph (1) of Article 57 of the Law.
- The investigating and prosecuting authority: The authority competent for investigation and prosecution investigates the offenses provided for in this chapter and prosecutes them before the competent court.
The article thus separates two stages: investigation and prosecution before the authority competent for them, then trial and imposition of the penalty before the competent court. The article does not name the competent court or the investigating and prosecuting authority.
It is complemented by Article 49, which provides that offenses provided for in this chapter are detected by employees or staff of the Ministry or of any other public bodies, designated by decision of the Minister, who have the capacity of judicial officers. Article 49 also preserves the court's power to refer acts that constitute offenses directly to the authority competent for investigation and prosecution.
It is preceded by Article 47, which provides that an enforcement dispute or grievance does not prevent enforcement procedures from continuing unless the competent person decides otherwise.
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 48 of the Saudi Enforcement Law
Who hears enforcement offense cases?
The competent court hears them and imposes the penalties set out, except what is stated in paragraph (1) of Article 57.
Who investigates enforcement offenses?
The authority competent for investigation and prosecution investigates them and prosecutes them before the competent court.
Articles this article refers to
More articles on Enforcement Offenses and Penalties
- Article 28
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.
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 مض
- 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.