Article 27 of the Saudi Protection of Whistleblowers, Witnesses, Experts and Victims Law
المادة 27 من نظام حماية المبلغين والشهود والخبراء والضحايا
The article punishes a private establishment with a fine of up to SAR 5 million, a ban on contracting with public bodies for up to 5 years, or both, if its manager or personnel commit offenses under Articles 25 and 26 in its interest.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
كل منشأة خاصة تعمل في المملكة ثبت أن مديرها أو أحد منسوبيها ارتكب جريمة من الجرائم المنصوص عليها في المادتين (الخامسة والعشرين) و(السادسة والعشرين) من النظام لمصلحتها، تعاقب بغرامة لا تزيد على (خمسة) ملايين ريال، أو بالحرمان من التعاقد مع أي جهة عامة لمدة لا تزيد على (خمس) سنوات، أو بهما معاً، وذلك دون إخلال بأي عقوبة نص عليها النظام في حق الشخص ذي الصفة الطبيعية مرتكب الجريمة.
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 27 explained in plain English
Liability under this Law is not limited to individuals; it extends to private establishments. Any private establishment operating in the Kingdom is punished if it is proven that its manager or one of its personnel committed, in its interest, an offense under:
- Article 25: using force or violence against a protected person after they tell or disclose the truth, or to make them refrain from doing so.
- Article 26: threatening or blackmailing a protected person, or giving or promising them a gift, benefit or advantage to make them refrain from telling the truth; obstructing the provision of protection, or refusing to provide it by someone the Law obliges to do so; and taking against them any of the employment measures in paragraph (1) of Article 17.
The penalty on the establishment:
- a fine of no more than SAR 5 million,
- or a ban on contracting with any public body for a period of no more than 5 years,
- or both.
To punish the establishment, it must be proven that the manager or one of the personnel committed the offense, and that the offense was in the establishment's interest.
The establishment's penalty does not replace the penalty of the natural person who committed the offense, as the article states that this is "without prejudice to any penalty provided by the Law against the natural person who committed the offense". Article 28 also punishes anyone who incites another to commit any of the offenses in Articles 24, 25, 26 and 27, or agrees with them or helps them.
Anyone representing an establishment facing an accusation of this kind can consult a lawyer who specializes in criminal cases.
Practical example
The manager of a company in Riyadh threatens an employee who is a protected person to make him refrain from giving his testimony, and does so in the company's interest. Besides the manager's own penalty, the company is punished with a fine of no more than SAR 5 million, a ban on contracting with any public body for no more than 5 years, or both.
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 27 of the Saudi Protection of Whistleblowers, Witnesses, Experts and Victims Law
Is a company punished if its employee threatens a witness?
A private establishment is punished if it is proven that its manager or one of its personnel committed, in its interest, an offense under Articles 25 and 26.
What is the penalty for an establishment under the Whistleblower Protection Law?
A fine of no more than SAR 5 million, a ban on contracting with any public body for no more than 5 years, or both.
Does the company's penalty exempt the employee from punishment?
No. The establishment's penalty is without prejudice to any penalty the Law provides against the natural person who committed the offense.
Articles this article refers to
- Article 25
The article punishes using force or violence against a protected person after they tell the truth, or to stop them, with up to 3 years in prison and a fine of up to SAR 500,000, or either.
يعاقب بالسجن مدة لا تتجاوز (ثلاث) سنوات، وبغرامة لا تزيد على (خمسمئة) ألف ريال، أو بإحدى هاتين العقوبتين؛ كل من استعمل القوة أو العنف تجاه المشمول بالحماية بعد
- Article 26
The article punishes threatening, blackmailing or enticing a protected person, obstructing or refusing protection, and taking prohibited employment measures against them, with graduated prison terms and fines.
1- يعاقب بالسجن مدة لا تتجاوز (سنتين)، وبغرامة لا تزيد على (ثلاثمئة) ألف ريال، أو بإحدى هاتين العقوبتين؛ كل من هدد المشمول بالحماية أو ابتزه أو قدم له عطية أو م
More articles on Aggravated Penalties and Liability of Establishments
- Article 28
The article punishes anyone who incites, agrees to or helps with the offenses in Articles 24 to 27 by up to the maximum penalty if the offense occurs, and up to half of it if it does not.
يعاقب من حرض غيره على ارتكاب أي من الجرائم المنصوص عليها في المواد (الرابعة والعشرين) و(الخامسة والعشرين) و(السادسة والعشرين) و(السابعة والعشرين) من النظام، أو
- Article 29
The article punishes attempting any offense in Articles 24, 25, 26 and 27 with a penalty not exceeding half of the maximum penalty set for that offense.
يعاقب كل من شرع في القيام بأي من الجرائم المنصوص عليها في المواد (الرابعة والعشرين) و(الخامسة والعشرين) و(السادسة والعشرين) و(السابعة والعشرين) من النظام بما لا
- Article 30
The article provides that sentences may not be less than half of their maximum if the offense is committed through an organized gang or in a case of recidivism within 5 years of a final judgment.
لا تقل العقوبات المحكوم بها عن نصف حدها الأعلى المقرر في النظام، وذلك في أي من الحالتين الآتيتين: 1- إذا ارتكبت الجريمة من خلال عصابة منظمة. 2- حالة العود. ويعد
- Article 31
The article provides for confiscation, by court judgment, of the money, benefit or advantage that is the subject of the offense, the tools used and the proceeds, without prejudice to the rights of good-faith third parties.
دون إخلال بحق الغير حسن النية، يصادر بحكم قضائي المال أو الفائدة أو الميزة محل الجريمة والأدوات والآلات المستخدمة في ارتكاب أي من الجرائم المنصوص عليها في النظا
- Article 32
The article treats a public employee, or someone treated as one, committing the offenses in Articles 24, 25 and 26 because of their job as a corruption offense, and applies the more severe penalty if the act is an offense under another law.
1- يعد ارتكاب الموظف العام أو من في حكمه أيًّا من الجرائم المنصوص عليها في المواد (الرابعة والعشرين) و(الخامسة والعشرين) و(السادسة والعشرين) من النظام بسبب وظيف
- Article 35
The article assigns investigation and prosecution of the Law's offenses to the Public Prosecution, except corruption offenses, which the Criminal Investigation and Prosecution Unit of the Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority handles.
1- تتولى النيابة العامة التحقيق والادعاء أمام المحكمة المختصة بالفصل في الجرائم المنصوص عليها في النظام فيما عدا جرائم الفساد. 2- تتولى وحدة التحقيق والادعاء ال
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.