Article 20 of the Saudi Penal Law on Forgery Crimes

المادة 20 من النظام الجزائي لجرائم التزوير · الفصل الخامس: أحكام عامة

The article punishes an attempt at any forgery offense with a penalty not exceeding half the maximum prescribed for that offense.

Official text (Arabic)

This article has not been amended since the law was issued.

يعاقب على الشروع في أي من الجرائم المنصوص عليها في هذا النظام، بما لا يتجاوز نصف الحد الأقصى للعقوبة المقررة لتلك الجريمة.

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 20 explained in plain English

This article provides that an attempt at any of the offenses provided for in this law is punishable, even if the offense is not completed.

The article does not define attempt; it only sets its penalty.

The way the penalty is calculated:

The maximum penalty prescribed for the offense the offender attempted is considered.
The penalty for the attempt may not exceed half of that maximum.

Each offense in the law has its own maximum, and the penalty for attempting it is within half of it. The text applies to any offense in the law, without exception.

This article is among the general provisions. It is preceded by Article 19, which punishes the knowing user of forgeries, and the importer or possessor of certain forgeries in the Kingdom, with the same penalty prescribed for the forgery offense. It is followed by Article 21, which punishes a partner by agreement, incitement or assistance with the same penalty prescribed for the offense.

Assessing whether an act has reached the stage of attempt is a matter that calls for consulting a lawyer who specializes in criminal cases.

Practical example

A person was caught while altering the data of a document before he finished changing it, so the forgery was not completed. If his act is established as an attempt, his penalty may not exceed half the maximum penalty prescribed for the offense he was trying to commit.

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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