Article 51 of the Saudi Weapons and Ammunition Law
المادة 51 من نظام الأسلحة والذخائر
The article requires aggravating the penalties in Articles 34, 35, and 36 if the violator is an employee of the bodies concerned with applying the Weapons and Ammunition Law.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يراعى تشديد العقوبات المقررة في المواد (الرابعة والثلاثين، والخامسة والثلاثين، والسادسة والثلاثين) من هذا النظام إذا كان مرتكب المخالفة أحد موظفي الجهات ذات العلاقة بتطبيق هذا النظام.
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 51 explained in plain English
This article sets out an aggravating circumstance tied to the capacity of the violator. If the violator is an employee of the bodies concerned with applying this Law, aggravation of the penalties must be taken into account in three specific articles: Article 34, Article 35, and Article 36.
The practical meaning is that an employee who is supposed to apply and protect the Law, if he commits a violation in these three articles, his job capacity is a reason for aggravating the penalty against him.
Note the following:
- The aggravation is limited to the three articles mentioned and does not, by the text of this article, extend to other penalty articles.
- The article does not specify the amount or method of the aggravation and is content with the phrase "aggravation of penalties is to be taken into account," so determining it is left to the body that imposes the penalty.
- The article does not name the bodies concerned with applying the Law and does not define who is considered an employee in them.
This article comes after Article 50, which regulates the confiscation of seized weapons and ammunition and the means of transport in smuggling. It is followed by Article 52, which assigns the investigation of violations of the Law to the Bureau of Investigation and Public Prosecution.
Anyone facing an accusation of this kind needs to consult a lawyer who specializes in criminal matters.
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 51 of the Saudi Weapons and Ammunition Law
Is the penalty for weapons offenses aggravated if the violator is an employee?
Yes. Aggravation of the penalties in Articles 34, 35, and 36 must be taken into account if the violator is an employee of the bodies concerned with applying this Law.
Did the article specify the amount of the aggravation?
No. It is content with stating that aggravation is to be taken into account, without specifying its amount.
Articles this article refers to
- Article 34
The article punishes with imprisonment of up to thirty years and a fine of up to SAR 300,000 anyone who smuggles, uses, or deals in military or personal weapons with the intent of disturbing internal security.
يعاقب بالسجن مدة لا تتجاوز ثلاثين سنة وبغرامة لا تتجاوز ثلاثمائة ألف ريال كل من يثبت قيامه بأي مما يأتي: أ - تهريب أسلحة حربية أو فردية أو قطع منها أو ذخائرها إ
- Article 35
The article punishes with imprisonment of up to twenty years and a fine of up to SAR 200,000, or either, anyone who smuggles military weapons, their parts or ammunition, or manufactures them, with the intent of trade.
يعاقب بالسجن مدة لا تتجاوز عشرين سنة وبغرامة لا تتجاوز مائتي ألف ريال أو بإحدى هاتين العقوبتين كل من يثبت قيامه بأي مما يأتي : أ - تهريب أسلحة حربية أو قطع منها
- Article 36
The article punishes with imprisonment of up to fifteen years and a fine of up to SAR 150,000, or either, anyone who carries, acquires, sells, or buys a military weapon or its ammunition.
يعاقب بالسجن مدة لا تتجاوز خمس عشرة سنة وبغرامة لا تتجاوز مائة وخمسين ألف ريال، أو بإحدى هاتين العقوبتين، كل من ثبت حمله سلاحا حربيا أو ذخيرته أو اقتنى أيا من ذ
More articles on Weapon Confiscation and Trial Procedures
- Article 48
The article provides that anyone proven to have participated in committing any violation under the Weapons and Ammunition Law is punished with the penalty set for the violation itself.
يعاقب بالعقوبة المقررة على المخالفة نفسها كل من تثبت مشاركته في ارتكاب أي مخالفة من المخالفات الواردة في هذا النظام.
- Article 49
The article applies the Weapons and Ammunition Law's penalties, except imprisonment, to institutions, companies, and any other establishment proven to have violated its provisions.
تطبق العقوبات - عدا السجن - الواردة في هذا النظام على المؤسسات أو الشركات أو أي منشأة أخرى يثبت مخالفتها لما ورد به من أحكام.
- Article 50Amended (1437 AH)
The article provides for the confiscation by judicial ruling of seized weapons, ammunition, and equipment, and of the means of transport in smuggling, and sets what happens to seized items when proceedings cannot be brought or lapse.
1- إضافة إلى العقوبات المنصوص عليها في هذا النظام، يصادر بحكم قضائي جميع ما يضبط من أسلحة وذخائر ومعدات متعلقة بها. وإذا كانت المخالفة تهريباً فتصادر وسيلة النق
- Article 52
The article assigns the investigation of violations of the Weapons and Ammunition Law to the Bureau of Investigation and Public Prosecution.
تتولى هيئة التحقيق والادعاء العام التحقيق في مخالفات أحكام هذا النظام.
- Article 53Amended (1437 AH)
The article creates a three-member committee by decision of the Minister to consider imposing the penalties in Articles 43 (except paragraph c), 44, 45, and 46, and allows a grievance against its decisions before the Administrative Court within sixty days.
تكوّن – بقرار من الوزير – لجنة من ثلاثة أعضاء يكون من بينهم واحد من المؤهلين في العلوم الشرعية أو النظامية للنظر في توقيع العقوبات المنصوص عليها في المواد (الثا
- Article 54
The article gives the Board of Grievances jurisdiction to hear the cases of violators of the Weapons and Ammunition Law and impose penalties, without prejudice to the committee's jurisdiction under Article 53.
مع عدم الإخلال بما تقضي به المادة (الثالثة والخمسون) من هذا النظام، يختص ديوان المظالم بالنظر في قضايا المخالفين لأحكام هذا النظام، وتوقيع العقوبات الواردة فيه.
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.