Article 31 of the Saudi Protection of Whistleblowers, Witnesses, Experts and Victims Law
المادة 31 من نظام حماية المبلغين والشهود والخبراء والضحايا
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 النظام، وكذلك المتحصلات المتحققة من ارتكابها.
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 31 explained in plain English
This article provides for confiscation for all the offenses under the Law. The following are confiscated by court judgment:
- the money, benefit or advantage that is the subject of the offense;
- the tools and equipment used in committing any of the offenses under the Law;
- the proceeds derived from committing them.
Two points to note:
- Confiscation is by court judgment, as the text requires.
- The article begins with the phrase "without prejudice to the rights of good-faith third parties", meaning that confiscation does not affect the rights of a third party who dealt in good faith in the money or tool subject to confiscation.
This article is linked to Article 30, which provides that sentences imposed may not be less than half of their maximum if the offense is committed through an organized gang or in a case of recidivism, and to Article 32, which treats a public employee, or someone treated as one, committing any of the offenses in Articles 24, 25 and 26 because of their job as a corruption offense, and provides for applying the more severe penalty if any of the acts in Articles 24, 25, 26 and 27 constitutes an offense under other laws.
Anyone with a right in money or a tool threatened with confiscation who believes they are a good-faith third party can consult a lawyer who specializes in criminal cases.
Practical example
A person in Riyadh is convicted of an offense under this Law and had used a phone in committing it. The tool used in the offense is confiscated by court judgment, without prejudice to the rights of good-faith third parties.
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 31 of the Saudi Protection of Whistleblowers, Witnesses, Experts and Victims Law
What is confiscated in offenses under the Whistleblower Protection Law?
The money, benefit or advantage that is the subject of the offense, the tools and equipment used in committing it, and the proceeds derived from it are confiscated by court judgment.
Does confiscation affect the rights of others?
Confiscation is without prejudice to the rights of good-faith third parties.
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 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 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.