Article 24 of the Saudi Penal Law on Forgery Crimes
المادة 24 من النظام الجزائي لجرائم التزوير · الفصل الخامس: أحكام عامة
The article allows the competent court to suspend any ancillary penalty resulting from conviction of the offenses in Articles 7, 14, 15 and 16.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
للمحكمة المختصة إيقاف أي عقوبة تبعية تترتب على الإدانة بالجرائم المنصوص عليها في المواد (السابعة) و(الرابعة عشرة) و(الخامسة عشرة) و(السادسة عشرة) من هذا النظام.
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 24 explained in plain English
This article gives the competent court a discretionary power to suspend any ancillary penalty resulting from conviction, but in four offenses only:
- Article 7: reusing a stamp whose value has already been collected (imprisonment of up to 3 months and a fine of up to SAR 30,000, or either, with payment of what the treasury lost).
- Article 14: forging, or issuing within one's competence, a medical report or certificate contrary to the truth, knowingly (imprisonment of up to one year and a fine of up to SAR 100,000, or either).
- Article 15: forgery by a competent person in examination answer papers or the data recording their results (imprisonment of up to 6 months and a fine of up to SAR 60,000, or either).
- Article 16: forgery in a document recording an employee's attendance or departure (imprisonment of up to 3 months and a fine of up to SAR 30,000, or either).
An ancillary penalty is one that follows from the conviction as a consequence of it. The article does not specify what these penalties are, and does not set conditions or criteria for the suspension, but leaves that to the court's discretion ("the court may"). The suspension also concerns the ancillary penalty only, and does not extend by the terms of this article to the principal penalty of imprisonment or a fine.
This article comes after Article 23 on the liability of the private establishment, and before Article 25 on exemption from punishment for whoever comes forward to report.
To know whether a suspension can be requested in a particular case, it is advisable to consult a lawyer who specializes in criminal cases.
Practical example
An employee was convicted of forging a sick leave under Article 14. Under this article, the competent court may suspend any ancillary penalty resulting from this conviction, and that remains in its discretion.
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 24 of the Saudi Penal Law on Forgery Crimes
In which forgery offenses can the ancillary penalty be suspended?
Only in the offenses in Articles 7, 14, 15 and 16.
Is suspending the ancillary penalty mandatory for the court?
No. The text makes it discretionary for the competent court.
Articles this article refers to
- Article 7
The article punishes reusing a stamp whose value has already been collected with imprisonment of up to 3 months and a fine of up to SAR 30,000, or either, plus paying what the treasury lost.
من أعاد استعمال طابعٍ سبق تحصيل قيمته، يعاقب بالسجن مدة لا تتجاوز ثلاثة أشهر، وبغرامةٍ لا تزيد على ثلاثين ألف ريال ، أو بإحدى هاتين العقوبتين، مع إلزامه بدفع ما
- Article 14
The article punishes forging, or issuing within one's competence, a medical report or certificate contrary to the truth, knowing it, with imprisonment of up to one year and a fine of up to SAR 100,000, or either.
من زوّر أو منح (بحسب اختصاصه) تقريراً أو شهادةً طبيةً على خلاف الحقيقة مع علمه بذلك؛ يعاقب بالسجن مدة لا تتجاوز سنة وبغرامة لا تزيد على مائة ألف ريال، أو بإحدى
- Article 15
The article punishes any competent person who forges examination answer papers or the data recording their results with imprisonment of up to 6 months and a fine of up to SAR 60,000, or either.
كل مختص زوّر في أوراق إجابات الاختبارات الدراسية أو بيانات رصد نتائجها، يعاقب بالسجن مدة لا تتجاوز ستة أشهر وبغرامة لا تزيد على ستين ألف ريال، أو بإحدى هاتين ال
- Article 16
The article punishes anyone who forges a document prepared to record an employee's attendance at or departure from work with imprisonment of up to 3 months and a fine of up to SAR 30,000, or either.
من زوّر في محرر معدّ لإثبات حضور الموظف إلى عمله أو انصرافه منه؛ يعاقب بالسجن مدة لا تتجاوز ثلاثة أشهر وبغرامة لا تزيد على ثلاثين ألف ريال، أو بإحدى هاتين العقو
More articles on Attempt, Participation and Confiscation
- Article 20
The article punishes an attempt at any forgery offense with a penalty not exceeding half the maximum prescribed for that offense.
يعاقب على الشروع في أي من الجرائم المنصوص عليها في هذا النظام، بما لا يتجاوز نصف الحد الأقصى للعقوبة المقررة لتلك الجريمة.
- Article 21
The article punishes anyone who takes part in any offense under the law by agreement, incitement or assistance with the same penalty prescribed for that offense.
من اشترك - بطريق الاتفاق أو التحريض أو المساعدة - في ارتكاب أيّ من الجرائم المنصوص عليها في هذا النظام، يعاقب بالعقوبة نفسها المقررة لتلك الجريمة.
- Article 22
The article requires the competent court, on conviction of any forgery offense, to order confiscation of the seized items used in it and derived from it, without prejudice to the rights of third parties acting in good faith.
على المحكمة المختصة - عند الإدانة بأيٍّ من الجرائم المنصوص عليها في هذا النظام - الحكم بمصادرة جميع الأشياء المضبوطة التي استعملت في تلك الجريمة والمتحصلة منها
- Article 28
The article allows ordering publication of the penalty imposed in the law's offenses, except the offenses in Articles 14, 15 and 16.
فيما عدا المواد (الرابعة عشرة) و(الخامسة عشرة) و(السادسة عشرة)، يجوز الحكم بنشر العقوبة المقضي بها في الجرائم الواردة في هذا النظام.
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.