Article 28 of the Saudi Protection of Whistleblowers, Witnesses, Experts and Victims Law
المادة 28 من نظام حماية المبلغين والشهود والخبراء والضحايا
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 اتفق معه، أو ساعده؛ إذا وقعت الجريمة بناء على هذا التحريض أو الاتفاق أو المساعدة، بما لا يتجاوز الحد الأعلى للعقوبة المقررة لها، ويعاقب بما لا يتجاوز نصف الحد الأعلى للعقوبة المقررة لها إذا لم تقع 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 28 explained in plain English
This article extends punishment to someone who did not commit the offense themselves but incited another to it, agreed with them or helped them. It covers the offenses in:
- Article 24: deliberately disclosing anything likely to harm a protected person.
- Article 25: using force or violence against a protected person.
- Article 26: threats, blackmail and enticement; obstructing protection or refusing to provide it; and employment measures against a protected person.
- Article 27: punishing a private establishment whose manager or one of its personnel commits, in its interest, an offense under Articles 25 and 26.
The article distinguishes between two cases:
- If the offense occurs on the basis of the incitement, agreement or help: the person is punished with a penalty not exceeding the maximum penalty set for it.
- If the offense does not occur: the person is punished with a penalty not exceeding half of the maximum penalty set for it.
So, for example, someone who incites another to use violence against a protected person is punished, if the offense occurs, with a penalty not exceeding the maximum in Article 25, which is imprisonment for 3 years and a fine of SAR 500,000; if it does not occur, with a penalty not exceeding half of that maximum.
Article 29 deals with a closely related case, attempt at these offenses, and punishes it with a penalty not exceeding half of the maximum penalty set for the offense. Anyone facing an accusation of this kind can consult a lawyer who specializes in criminal cases.
Practical example
A person in Riyadh agrees with another to threaten a protected witness to stop him from giving his testimony, but the threat is not carried out. The person who agreed is punished with a penalty not exceeding half of the maximum penalty for threats in Article 26; had the threat been carried out on the basis of this agreement, the penalty would not exceed that maximum itself.
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 28 of the Saudi Protection of Whistleblowers, Witnesses, Experts and Victims Law
Is someone who incited the threatening of a witness punished?
Yes. They are punished with a penalty not exceeding the maximum penalty set if the offense occurs on the basis of their incitement, and not exceeding half of the maximum if it does not occur.
Is a helper punished if the offense does not occur?
Yes. They are punished with a penalty not exceeding half of the maximum penalty set for it.
Articles this article refers to
- Article 24
The article punishes deliberate disclosure of what harms a protected person with up to one year in prison and a fine of up to SAR 200,000, or either, subject to the exceptions in Article 16(2).
مع مراعاة ما ورد في الفقرة (2) من المادة (السادسة عشرة) من النظام، يعاقب بالسجن مدة لا تتجاوز (سنة)، وبغرامة لا تزيد على (مئتي) ألف ريال، أو بإحدى هاتين العقوبت
- 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
- Article 27
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.
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 لم
More articles on Aggravated Penalties and Liability of Establishments
- Article 27
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.
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 لم
- 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.