Article 35 of the Saudi Protection of Whistleblowers, Witnesses, Experts and Victims Law
المادة 35 من نظام حماية المبلغين والشهود والخبراء والضحايا
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 الجنائي في هيئة الرقابة ومكافحة الفساد التحقيق والادعاء أمام المحكمة المختصة بالفصل في جرائم الفساد المنصوص عليها في الفقرة (1) من المادة (الثانية والثلاثين) من 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 35 explained in plain English
This article sets out the body that handles investigation and prosecution before the court competent to decide the offenses under the Law, and divides it between two bodies:
- The Public Prosecution: handles investigation and prosecution of the offenses under the Law, except corruption offenses.
- The Criminal Investigation and Prosecution Unit of the Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority: handles investigation and prosecution of the corruption offenses in paragraph (1) of Article 32.
The corruption offenses meant are those in paragraph (1) of Article 32: a public employee, or someone treated as one, committing any of the offenses in Articles 24, 25 and 26 because of their job.
In practice this means:
- For offenses other than corruption offenses, the Public Prosecution handles investigation and prosecution.
- If a public employee, or someone treated as one, commits one of the offenses in Articles 24, 25 and 26 because of their job, the Criminal Investigation and Prosecution Unit of the Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority handles investigation and prosecution.
Paragraph (2) of Article 32 also provides for applying the more severe penalty if any of the acts in Articles 24, 25, 26 and 27 is an offense under other laws. Article 36 follows, requiring the Public Prosecution to prepare the Implementing Regulations in coordination with the relevant bodies, including the Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority.
Anyone who needs to know the body competent for their case can consult a lawyer who specializes in criminal cases.
Practical example
An employee of a government agency in Jeddah commits, because of his job, one of the offenses in Article 24. His act is a corruption offense, so the Criminal Investigation and Prosecution Unit of the Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority investigates him and prosecutes before the competent court, not the Public Prosecution.
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 35 of the Saudi Protection of Whistleblowers, Witnesses, Experts and Victims Law
Who investigates offenses under the Whistleblower Protection Law?
The Public Prosecution, except corruption offenses, which the Criminal Investigation and Prosecution Unit of the Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority handles.
When does the Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority (Nazaha) handle witness protection offenses?
In the corruption offenses in paragraph (1) of Article 32, which are a public employee, or someone treated as one, committing the offenses in Articles 24, 25 and 26 because of their job.
Articles this article refers to
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 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
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.