Article 49 of the Saudi Law of Evidence
المادة 49 من نظام الإثبات · الفرع الثالث: الادعاء بالتزوير
The Article imposes a fine of up to SAR 10,000 on a person claiming forgery whose claim is rejected or whose right to prove is forfeited, with exceptions, and requires a forged document to be referred to the Public Prosecution.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- إذا حكم برفض الادعاء بتزوير المحرَّر أو سقوط حق مدعي التزوير في الإثبات، حكم عليه بغرامة لا تزيد على (عشرة آلاف) ريال، وذلك دون إخلال بحق ذوي الشأن في المطالبة بالتعويض.
2- لا يحكم بالغرامة على مدعي التزوير إذا تنازل عن ادعائه قبل انتهاء إجراءات التحقيق فيه؛ ما لم يثبت للمحكمة أنه قصد الكيد لخصمه أو تأخير الفصل في الدعوى
3- لا يحكم بالغرامة على مدعي التزوير إذا ثبت بعض ما ادعاه.
4- إذا ثبت تزوير المحرَّر أحالته المحكمة إلى النيابة العامة؛ لاتخاذ الإجراءات اللازمة.
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 49 explained in plain English
This Article balances protecting parties from non-serious claims of forgery against not penalizing a person who has a basis for his claim:
- The fine: If a judgment is given rejecting the claim of forgery, or forfeiting the right of the person claiming forgery to prove it, he is fined no more than SAR 10,000, without prejudice to the right of the persons concerned to claim compensation.
- Withdrawal before the investigation ends: The person claiming forgery is not fined if he withdrew his claim before the investigation procedures ended, unless it is proven to the court that he intended to harass his opponent or to delay the determination of the case.
- Partial proof: No fine is imposed if some of what he claimed is proven.
- Proof of forgery: If the document is proven to be forged, the court refers it to the Public Prosecution to take the necessary measures.
The amount stated is a maximum, and the court sets the fine within its limit. The Article does not detail the procedures the Public Prosecution takes after the referral.
Article 48 allows the court to rule that a document is rejected and void if it clearly appears to it to be forged, even if forgery was not claimed before it, while Article 50 allows a person who fears that a forged document will be invoked against him to bring a principal action for forgery. To assess how serious a claim of forgery is before making it, it is advisable to consult a lawyer specializing in civil litigation, and, if the criminal aspect is involved, a lawyer specializing in criminal cases.
Practical example
Reem claimed that a contract submitted by her opponent was forged, and after the investigation the contract was proven to be genuine and her claim was rejected. She is fined no more than SAR 10,000, and her opponent keeps the right to claim compensation. If forgery had in fact been proven, the court would have referred the contract to the Public Prosecution.
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 49 of the Saudi Law of Evidence
What is the fine for a claim of forgery that is not proven?
If the claim is rejected or the right of the person claiming forgery to prove it is forfeited, he is fined no more than SAR 10,000, without prejudice to the right to compensation.
Will I be fined if I withdraw a claim of forgery?
No fine is imposed if you withdrew before the investigation procedures ended, unless it is proven to the court that you intended to harass your opponent or delay the determination of the case.
Will I be fined if only part of my claim is proven?
No. No fine is imposed if some of what the person claiming forgery claimed is proven.
What happens if the document is proven to be forged?
The court refers the document to the Public Prosecution to take the necessary measures.
More articles on Denying a Signature and Challenging for Forgery
- Article 26
An official document is binding on everyone as to what its author did within his task or what occurred in his presence, unless forgery is proven, and what the persons concerned stated in it is binding on them unless the contrary is proven.
1- المحرَّر الرسمي حجة على الكافة بما دون فيه من أمور قام بها محرره في حدود مهمته، أو حدثت من ذوي الشأن في حضوره؛ ما لم يثبت تزويره بالطرق المقررة نظاماً. 2- يك
- Article 29
An ordinary document is binding on the person who signed it unless he expressly denies his handwriting, signature, seal or fingerprint, and a denial is not accepted from a person who has discussed the substance of the document before the court.
1- يعد المحرَّر العادي صادراً ممن وقعه وحجة عليه؛ ما لم ينكر صراحة ما هو منسوب إليه من خط أو إمضاء أو ختم أو بصمة، أو ينكر ذلك خلَفُه أو ينفي علمه بأن الخط أو ا
- Article 38
The Article gives the court power to assess the effect of physical defects in a document on its evidentiary force, to accept all or part of it, and to question its issuer or author where its validity is doubtful.
1- للمحكمة أن تقدر ما يترتب على العيوب المادية في المحرَّر من إسقاط حجيته في الإثبات أو إنقاصها، ولها أن تأخذ بكل ما تضمنه المحرَّر أو ببعضه. 2- إذا كانت صحة ال
- Article 39
The Article distinguishes between a claim of forgery, which applies to official and ordinary documents, and denial of handwriting, seal, signature or fingerprint, which applies only to ordinary documents, and sets the burden of proof.
1- يرد الادعاء بالتزوير على المحرَّر الرسمي والعادي، أما إنكار الخط أو الختم أو الإمضاء أو البصمة فلا يرد إلا على المحرَّر العادي. 2- على الخصم الذي يدعي التزوي
- Article 40
The Article sets the conditions under which the court orders an investigation by comparison, by hearing witnesses, or by both, when handwriting, signature, seal or fingerprint on an ordinary document is denied.
إذا أنكر من احتج عليه بالمحرَّر العادي خطه أو إمضاءه أو ختمه أو بصمته، أو أنكر ذلك خلفه أو نائبه أو نفى علمه به، وظل الخصم الآخر متمسكاً بالمحرَّر، وكان المحرَّ
- Article 41
The Article regulates the hearing at which documents for comparison are submitted and the effect of parties' absence, and requires the party disputing a document's validity to attend in person to provide a handwriting sample.
1- تحدد المحكمة جلسة لحضور الخصوم لتقديم ما لديهم من محرَّرات للمضاهاة، والاتفاق على ما يصلح منها لذلك، فإن تخلف الخصم المكلف بالإثبات بغير عذر مقبول جاز الحكم
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.