Article 20 of the Saudi Precious Metals and Gemstones Law

This article specifies who investigates violations of the Law and who decides them, and it distinguishes between two types:

First - violations of Articles 14, 15 and 16:

• The competent court hears the cases arising from them and imposes the penalties.
• The Public Prosecution, in accordance with its law, investigates them and prosecutes before the competent court.

Second - other violations: they are heard and the penalty provided for in Article 17, which is a fine of not more than SAR 200,000, is imposed by one or more committees:

• Formed by a decision of the Minister of Commerce in agreement with the Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources for a term of three years, renewable.
• With not fewer than three members, and the formation decision names its chair, who must be among those specialized in Sharia or law.
• Its decisions are issued by majority and with reasons.
• The regulations set its working rules, procedures and remuneration.
• Its decisions may be challenged before the competent court.

The article in its present text was issued by Royal Decree No. M/87 dated 3/4/1446 AH, and the amendment takes effect from 8/4/1447 AH. The article does not specify a period for the challenge, and does not name the competent court.

The article connects to Article 19, which permits the judgment or decision imposing the penalty to include publication of its operative part at the violator's expense once it becomes final or unchallengeable, and to Article 21, which assigns the issuing of regulations and implementing decisions to the Minister of Commerce in agreement with the Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources. Anyone facing a case before the court needs a lawyer specializing in criminal cases, and anyone who wants to challenge a committee's decision may consult a lawyer specializing in administrative cases.