Article 23 of the Saudi Protection of Whistleblowers, Witnesses, Experts and Victims Law
المادة 23 من نظام حماية المبلغين والشهود والخبراء والضحايا
The article requires the whistleblower, witness and expert to reimburse all protection expenses if the report is proven malicious, the testimony false, or the expertise false or grossly negligent.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
دون إخلال بما تضمنه أي نظام آخر من أحكام، يلزم المبلِّغ والشاهد والخبير بإعادة قيمة جميع النفقات التي دُفعت لتوفير الحماية، إذا ثبت أن البلاغ كان كيديًّا أو أن الشهادة كانت زوراً أو أن الخبرة التي قدمت كانت كذباً أو تضمنت إهمالاً جسيماً.
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 23 explained in plain English
This article sets a financial consequence for someone who benefited from protection without right. The whistleblower, witness and expert must reimburse the value of all expenses paid to provide protection, in the following cases:
- if it is proven that the report was malicious;
- if it is proven that the testimony was false;
- if it is proven that the expertise provided was false or involved gross negligence.
The text requires proof; suspicion is not enough. Article 22 provides that failure to prove guilt against the person the report, testimony or expertise was given against does not affect protection, as long as it was given in good faith and on serious grounds. Together the two articles show that mere failure to prove guilt does not trigger reimbursement of expenses; proof of malice, falsity, falsehood or gross negligence does.
The article begins with the phrase "without prejudice to the provisions of any other law", meaning that reimbursing the expenses does not prevent the application of any provisions that other laws may set for these acts.
Note that the text mentions the whistleblower, witness and expert, and does not mention the victim, and that it does not specify how the expenses are calculated or collected.
Anyone facing a claim of this kind can consult a lawyer who specializes in criminal cases.
Practical example
A man in Dammam files a report about a serious crime against a business competitor and is admitted to the protection program, and it is then proven that his report was malicious. He must then reimburse the value of all expenses paid to provide his protection, without prejudice to the provisions of other laws.
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 23 of the Saudi Protection of Whistleblowers, Witnesses, Experts and Victims Law
Does a whistleblower pay the cost of their protection?
A whistleblower must reimburse the value of all protection expenses if it is proven that their report was malicious.
What are the consequences for a false witness who received protection?
They must reimburse the value of all expenses paid to provide protection if it is proven that their testimony was false, without prejudice to the provisions of any other law.
More articles on Malicious Reports and False Testimony
- Article 18
The article bars criminal proceedings against a whistleblower, witness or expert unless the report is proven malicious, the testimony false, or the expertise false or grossly negligent, and private-right claims are heard only after.
لا تقام الدعوى الجزائية ضد المبلِّغ أو الشاهد أو الخبير إلا في الحالات الآتية: 1- إذا ثبت أن بلاغ المبلِّغ كيدي. 2- إذا ثبت أن شهادة الشاهد زور. 3- إذا ثبت أن ا
- Article 22
The article provides that failure to prove guilt against the person a report, testimony or expertise was given against does not affect the protection, as long as it was given in good faith and on serious grounds.
لا يؤثر عدم ثبوت الإدانة على من قُدّم البلاغ أو الشهادة أو الخبرة ضده؛ على الحماية المقدمة للمشمول بالحماية، ما دام قدم البلاغ أو الشهادة أو الخبرة بحسن نية وبن
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.