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Article 27 of the Saudi Penal Law on Forgery Crimes

المادة 27 من النظام الجزائي لجرائم التزوير · الفصل الخامس: أحكام عامة

The article provides that the criminal case in the law's offenses lapses after 10 years from the day after the offense is committed, except for the offenses of Articles 3 and 10.

Official text (Arabic)

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

فيما عدا الجرائم المنصوص عليها في المادتين (الثالثة) و(العاشرة)، تنقضي الدعوى الجزائية في الجرائم المنصوص عليها في هذا النظام بعد مضي عشر سنوات تبدأ من اليوم التالي لوقوع 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 27 explained in plain English

This article sets the period for the lapse of the criminal case in forgery offenses, that is, the period after which the criminal case no longer stands.

  • The period: 10 years.
  • When it starts to run: from the day after the offense is committed, not from the day it is discovered.
  • Its scope: the offenses provided for in this law.

The exception: this period does not apply to two offenses:

  • Article 3: forging the seal of the State, or the seal of the King, the Crown Prince, the Prime Minister or one of his deputies, or the seal of the Royal Court or the Crown Prince's Court.
  • Article 10: forging a document attributed to the King, the Crown Prince, the Prime Minister or one of his deputies.

The article excepts these two offenses from the 10-year period, and does not state another period for them.

The article speaks of the criminal case, and does not address private rights that may arise from the forgery.

This article comes after Article 26, which applies the law to certain offenses committed outside the Kingdom, and before Article 28, which allows ordering publication of the penalty.

To calculate the period in a particular case, it is advisable to consult a lawyer who specializes in criminal cases.

Practical example

A person forged a private contract in 1430 AH, and no criminal case was brought against him. Under this article, the criminal case lapses after 10 years, running from the day after the offense was committed. But if the act were the forgery of a document attributed to the King, this period would not apply to it.

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 27 of the Saudi Penal Law on Forgery Crimes

When does a forgery case lapse in Saudi Arabia?

The criminal case lapses after 10 years running from the day after the offense is committed, except for the offenses of Articles 3 and 10.

Does the period start from the discovery of the forgery?

The text makes it start from the day after the offense is committed.

Which offenses are excepted from the ten-year period?

Forging the seal of the State, the King, senior officials and the two Courts (Article 3), and forging documents attributed to the King, the Crown Prince and the Prime Minister or one of his deputies (Article 10).

Articles this article refers to

More articles on Limitation Period for Forgery Cases

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.