Article 51 of the Saudi Enforcement Law
المادة 51 من نظام التنفيذ · الباب السادس: العقوبات
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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.
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 51 explained in plain English
This article concerns a public employee or equivalent, and provides:
- The criminalized act: Preventing or obstructing enforcement.
- The penalty: Imprisonment of not more than 5 years; the article does not provide for a fine.
- Characterization: This act is an offense of those involving breach of trust.
The particularity of this article appears when it is compared with Article 50, which punishes whoever conceals or smuggles property, deliberately obstructs enforcement, resists it or gives misleading information with imprisonment of not more than 3 years and a fine of not more than SAR 1,000,000, or either. For a public employee or equivalent who prevents or obstructs enforcement, the maximum imprisonment is 5 years, with the act characterized as a breach of trust.
The article does not specify who counts as "equivalent to a public employee", nor the forms of prevention or obstruction in detail.
It is followed by Article 52, which punishes with imprisonment of not more than 15 years any debtor proven to have dissipated his property where the property is substantial, even if his insolvency is established.
A person facing an accusation under this article needs to consult a lawyer specialized in criminal cases.
Practical example
An employee at a government body received a request relating to enforcing a right that is the subject of an enforceable instrument, and refused to take what was required with the intent of obstructing enforcement. This act falls within preventing or obstructing enforcement, which the article punishes with imprisonment of not more than 5 years, and it is an offense involving breach of trust.
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 51 of the Saudi Enforcement Law
What is the penalty for a public employee who obstructs enforcement?
Imprisonment of not more than 5 years if he prevents or obstructs enforcement.
Is a public employee obstructing enforcement an offense involving breach of trust?
Yes. The article provides that a public employee or equivalent preventing or obstructing enforcement is an offense of those involving breach of trust.
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 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 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.