Article 5 of the Saudi Ministers Trial Law

This article deals with crimes of abuse of office, and it punishes anyone accused under this Law with imprisonment of 3 to 10 years if he commits one of the following crimes:

1. Acts or conduct likely to influence, by increase or decrease, the prices of goods, real estate, currency or securities, in order to obtain a personal benefit for himself or another.
2. Accepting a benefit of any kind, for himself or another, in return for performing an official act or refraining from it.
3. Abusing influence, even by deception, to obtain a benefit or advantage from any authority, company, institution or government department.
4. Deliberately violating laws, regulations and orders where this results in the loss of the State's financial rights or of individuals' rights established under Sharia or law.
5. Disclosing the decisions and deliberations of the Council of Ministers relating to the State's internal security and external safety, financial and economic affairs, and the trial of ministers.
6. Personal interference in the affairs of the judiciary and of government authorities and departments.

Note that abuse of influence occurs even if the influence is only imagined, and that violating regulations falls under this item only if it is deliberate and results in loss of rights. Article 6 then adds that conviction necessarily leads to dismissal and deprivation of public office.

This is a general explanation of the text and not an opinion on a particular case; anyone who needs an assessment of a specific situation should consult a lawyer who specializes in criminal and administrative matters.