Article 53 of the Saudi Enforcement Law
المادة 53 من نظام التنفيذ · الباب السادس: العقوبات
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 إجراءات التنفيذ بقصد الإضرار بالمنفذ ضده، أو إذا ماطل في إنهاء الطلب بعد استيفاء الحق محل السند التنفيذي بقصد الإضرار بالمنفذ ضده.
2- المخول -وفقًا لأحكام النظام- بالاطلاع على البيانات أو المعلومات المتعلقة بأموال المنفذ ضده، إذا أفشاها دون سبب نظامي، ويعاقب بالعقوبة نفسها كل شخص اطلع على تلك البيانات أو المعلومات دون أمر قضائي.
3- مقدم خدمات التنفيذ المرخص له أو تابعيه، إذا أخلَّ أيٌّ منهم بواجباته؛ بتعدّيه أو تهرّبه من تسليم الأموال أو تَسَلُّمِها.
4- المقوم أو وكيل البيع أو تابعيهما، أو المشارك في بيوع المزادات؛ إذا تعمد أيٌّ منهم التأثير في السعر، أو التضليل في عدالة الأسعار.
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 53 explained in plain English
This article sets the penalty of imprisonment of not more than 3 years, a fine of not more than SAR 100,000, or either of these penalties, for the following categories:
- The enforcement applicant if he requests an enforcement procedure with the intent of harming the enforcement debtor, or delays ending the request after the right that is the subject of the enforceable instrument has been satisfied, with the intent of harming him.
- A person authorized to view, under the Law, data or information relating to the enforcement debtor's property, if he discloses it without a legal reason. The same penalty applies to anyone who viewed such data or information without a judicial order.
- A licensed enforcement service provider or its staff if any of them breaches his duties, by wrongdoing or evading handing over or receiving property.
- The appraiser, sales agent or their staff, or a participant in auction sales, if any of them deliberately influences the price or misleads as to fairness of prices.
This article thus protects the enforcement debtor from abuse of enforcement procedures, protects the confidentiality of his financial data, and protects the integrity of handing over property and the fairness of sale prices. Note that both forms concerning the enforcement applicant require intent to harm the enforcement debtor.
The article follows Article 52, which punishes a debtor proven to have dissipated substantial property with imprisonment of not more than 15 years, and precedes Article 54, which punishes whoever refuses to comply with an enforcement order issued on custody, guardianship or visitation, or resists or obstructs enforcement.
Practical example
A creditor in Riyadh received his right in full from a debtor, but deliberately did not end the enforcement request in order to keep the procedures pending against the debtor with the intent of harming him. This delay in ending the request after the right was satisfied, with intent to harm, is one of the forms the article punishes with imprisonment of not more than 3 years and a fine of not more than SAR 100,000, or either.
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 53 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 53 of the Saudi Enforcement Law
What is the penalty for a malicious enforcement request against a debtor?
Imprisonment of not more than 3 years and a fine of not more than SAR 100,000, or either.
Is a creditor punished if he does not end the enforcement request after payment?
He is punished if he delays ending the request after the right is satisfied, with the intent of harming the enforcement debtor.
What is the penalty for disclosing data on the enforcement debtor's property?
A person authorized to view it who discloses it without a legal reason is punished, as is anyone who viewed it without a judicial order, with imprisonment of up to 3 years and a fine of up to SAR 100,000, or either.
What is the penalty for manipulating auction prices in enforcement?
The appraiser, sales agent or their staff, or a participant in the auction, who deliberately influences the price or misleads as to fairness of prices is punished with the same penalty.
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 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
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.