Article 20 of the Saudi Anti-Corruption Authority Law

This article deals with two situations that may obstruct the trial of a person accused of a corruption crime: his flight outside the Kingdom, or his death. The aim is that public funds are not lost because of either. The steps are:

1. Gathering evidence: The Authority, in coordination with the relevant bodies, works to obtain the evidence available and the results of the investigation, if any.

2. Bringing the case: to take the necessary steps to bring a case before the competent court asking it to consider:

• return of the funds connected to the crime, or their confiscation, or return of their value, as the case may be.
• return of any proceeds arising from those funds.

3. Enforcing the judgment: after the judgment is issued and becomes final and bears the enforcement formula, the Authority coordinates with the Ministry of Justice to take the necessary steps to enforce it inside or outside the Kingdom in accordance with:

• the Enforcement Law.
• the relevant international agreements.
• the principle of reciprocity.

Note that the case here is directed at the funds themselves and their proceeds. What is sought is the return of the funds, their confiscation or the return of their value. Enforcement outside the Kingdom depends on international agreements and the principle of reciprocity.

The article is linked to Article 19, which shifts the burden of proving lawful funds to a public employee whose wealth increases out of proportion to his income, and to Article 21, which allows proposing an employee's dismissal by royal order when there are strong suspicions. A person whose interests are affected by a case for the return of funds, such as heirs, should consider consulting a lawyer who specializes in criminal or enforcement cases.