Article 7 of the Saudi Penal Law on Forgery Crimes
المادة 7 من النظام الجزائي لجرائم التزوير · الفصل الثالث: تزوير الطوابع
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 فوته على الخزينة العامة من مبالغ.
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 7 explained in plain English
This article is not about making a forged stamp but about a different act: reusing a stamp whose value has already been collected; that is, a genuine stamp that was used before and paid for, then used again as if it were new.
Under Article 1, a stamp is the label or its equivalent, printed mechanically or electronically, used for postage or for collecting public revenue.
The penalty is:
- Imprisonment for a period not exceeding 3 months.
- And a fine of up to SAR 30,000.
- Or either of these two penalties.
- With an order requiring him to pay the amounts he cost the public treasury in all cases.
This penalty is much lighter than that for forging a stamp in Article 6 (imprisonment of up to 5 years and a fine of up to SAR 500,000, with payment of what the treasury lost), because reusing a stamp is less serious than making a forged one. Article 8 then begins the provisions on forging documents attributed to public entities.
To assess a person's position in a particular case, it is advisable to consult a lawyer who specializes in criminal cases.
Practical example
A shop owner peeled a stamp off an earlier transaction whose fee had been paid, then stuck it on a new transaction to avoid paying the fee again. He is punished with imprisonment of up to 3 months and a fine of up to SAR 30,000, or either, and is required to pay the fee he cost the treasury.
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 7 of the Saudi Penal Law on Forgery Crimes
What is the penalty for reusing a used stamp?
Imprisonment for a period not exceeding 3 months and a fine of up to SAR 30,000, or either, with the offender required to pay what he cost the public treasury.
Must he repay the amount even if only a fine is imposed?
The text requires him to pay what he cost the public treasury along with the penalty imposed.
More articles on Forging Stamps
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.