Article 29 of the Saudi Prisons and Detention Law
المادة 29 من نظام السجن والتوقيف
Anyone who brings or tries to bring weapons, drugs or prohibited items into prisons, or smuggles or tries to smuggle out a prisoner, is punished with up to five years' imprisonment, and up to ten years if he works at or guards the facility.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
مع عدم الإخلال بأي عقوبة أشد ينص عليها نظام آخر يعاقب بالسجن مدة لا تزيد على خمس سنوات كل من:
1 - أدخل أو حاول أن يدخل إلى السجون أو دور التوقيف أسلحة أو آلات يمكن أن تستعمل في الإخلال بالأمن.
2 - أدخل أو حاول أن يدخل إلى السجون أو دور التوقيف مخدرات أو مواد ممنوعة بمقتضى النظام أو اللوائح.
3 - هرب مسجونا أو موقوفا أو حاول أن يهربه.
وإذا كان الجاني ممن يعملون في السجن أو دار التوقيف أو من المكلفين بحراستها وحفظ الأمن فيها عوقب بالسجن مدة لا تزيد على عشر سنوات.
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 29 explained in plain English
This article sets the penalties for crimes that affect the security of prisons and detention facilities:
The punishable acts:
- Bringing or attempting to bring into prisons or detention facilities weapons or devices that could be used to disrupt security.
- Bringing or attempting to bring in drugs or items prohibited under the Law or regulations.
- Smuggling out a prisoner or detainee, or attempting to smuggle him out.
It is noted that, according to the text, an attempt is punished in these cases in the same way as the completed act.
The penalty:
- Imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years.
- If the offender is among those who work in the prison or detention facility or those assigned to guard it and maintain security in it, the penalty is imprisonment for a period not exceeding ten years.
The article begins with the phrase "without prejudice to any harsher penalty provided for in another law"; that is, if the act is punishable by a harsher penalty in another law, this article does not prevent that penalty from being applied. The article does not identify those laws.
It comes after Article (28), which prohibits assault on prisoners and detainees and provides for disciplining employees who commit assault, and before Article (30), which makes the Minister of Interior responsible for issuing the Implementing Regulations. Anyone facing an accusation under this article needs to consult a lawyer who specializes in criminal cases.
Practical example
A person was caught during a visit to a prison in Riyadh trying to bring drugs in for his relative. He is punished under this article with imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years, even if he did not succeed in bringing them in, unless another law provides a harsher penalty. Had the offender been a prison guard, the penalty would have been imprisonment for a period not exceeding ten years.
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 29 of the Saudi Prisons and Detention Law
What is the penalty for smuggling a prisoner in Saudi Arabia?
Imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years for anyone who smuggles out a prisoner or detainee or tries to, rising to ten years if the offender works at or guards the prison, without prejudice to any harsher penalty in another law.
What is the penalty for bringing drugs or prohibited items into a prison?
Imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years for anyone who brings or tries to bring in drugs or items prohibited under the Law or regulations.
Is someone who tried to bring in prohibited items but failed punished?
Yes. The text punishes anyone who brings or tries to bring them in.
Is the penalty harsher for a prison employee?
Yes. If the offender works at the prison or detention facility or is assigned to guard it, he is punished with imprisonment for a period not exceeding ten years.
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.