Article 50 of the Saudi Enforcement Law
المادة 50 من نظام التنفيذ · الباب السادس: العقوبات
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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، أو تهريبها؛ وذلك بقصد الحيلولة دون استيفاء الحق محل السند التنفيذي وفقًا لأحكام النظام.
ب- تعمد تعطيل التنفيذ، وذلك بالامتناع عن تنفيذ أمر التنفيذ الصادر في حقه، أو بالامتناع عن الإفصاح عما لديه من أموال، أو بإقامة دعوى بقصد تعطيل التنفيذ، أو بالتصرف بالأموال محل التنفيذ بعد صدور الأمر بالحجز عليها، أو بعدم الاستجابة للاستجواب؛ وذلك وفقًا لأحكام النظام.
ج- مقاومة التنفيذ، بأن هدد أو تعدى بنفسه -أو بوساطة غيره- على موظف أو مرخص له أثناء تأديته لأعمال التنفيذ أو بسببها، أو هدد أو تعدى على طالب التنفيذ بسبب التنفيذ، أو قام بأي فعل آخر غير مشروع بقصد مقاومة التنفيذ.
د- تقديم بيانات أو معلومات مضللة أو غير صحيحة، بشكل متعمد، أمام المحكمة أو أثناء إجراءات التنفيذ.
2- يعاقب بالعقوبة المقررة في الفقرة (1) من هذه المادة، كل من شارك في ارتكاب جريمة من الجرائم المنصوص عليها في هذه المادة. ويُعد شريكًا في الجريمة كل من اتفق أو حرض أو ساعد في ارتكابها مع علمه بذلك إذا ارتكبت الجريمة بناءً على هذا الاتفاق أو التحريض أو المساعدة.
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 50 explained in plain English
This article sets out the main enforcement offenses and their penalty: imprisonment of not more than 3 years, a fine of not more than SAR 1,000,000, or either of these penalties. The offenses are:
- Concealing or smuggling property with the intent of preventing satisfaction of the right that is the subject of the enforceable instrument.
- Deliberately obstructing enforcement in one of these ways: refusing to comply with the enforcement order issued against him, refusing to disclose the property he holds, filing an action with the intent of obstructing enforcement, disposing of the property subject to enforcement after the attachment order over it was issued, or failing to respond to questioning.
- Resisting enforcement: by threatening or assaulting, himself or through another, an employee or licensee while carrying out enforcement work or because of it, or threatening or assaulting the enforcement applicant because of enforcement, or any other unlawful act with the intent of resisting enforcement.
- Deliberately providing misleading or incorrect statements or information before the court or during enforcement procedures.
The accomplice: Anyone who takes part in committing any of these offenses is punished with the same penalty. An accomplice is anyone who agreed, incited or assisted in committing it knowing of it, if the offense was committed on the basis of that agreement, incitement or assistance.
Note that the text requires intent or deliberateness in a number of these forms. Under Article 49, these offenses are detected by employees designated by decision of the Minister. It is followed by Article 51, which punishes a public employee or equivalent who prevents or obstructs enforcement with imprisonment of not more than 5 years. A person facing an accusation of one of these offenses needs to consult a lawyer specialized in criminal cases.
Practical example
An attachment order was issued over cars owned by the owner of an establishment in Riyadh in favor of a creditor, and he sold the cars after the attachment order was issued, with a relative helping him move them while knowing of the attachment. Disposing of the property subject to enforcement after the attachment order over it was issued is one of the forms of deliberately obstructing enforcement that the article punishes with imprisonment of not more than 3 years and a fine of not more than SAR 1,000,000, or either, and the relative receives the same penalty if it is proven that he assisted knowingly and the offense was committed on the basis of that assistance.
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 50 of the Saudi Enforcement Law
What is the penalty for concealing or smuggling property to avoid enforcement?
Imprisonment of not more than 3 years and a fine of not more than SAR 1,000,000, or either, if it was done with the intent of preventing satisfaction of the right.
Is refusing to disclose property an offense?
Yes. It is one of the forms of deliberately obstructing enforcement that the article punishes.
Is someone who helps a debtor smuggle his property punished?
Yes. An accomplice receives the same penalty, and an accomplice is anyone who agreed, incited or assisted knowingly if the offense was committed on that basis.
What is the penalty for threatening or assaulting an enforcement employee?
This is resisting enforcement, punishable by imprisonment of not more than 3 years and a fine of not more than SAR 1,000,000, or either.
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 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 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.