In the field of human rights and the protection of individuals from violence and abuse of authority, Royal Decree No. 43 dated 29/11/1377 AH was issued.
The decree provides the following:
Article One
A financial penalty of not less than 1,000 riyals and not more than 10,000 riyals shall be imposed on any public employee who engages in commercial activity or practices a private profession without legal authorization.
Article Two
A public employee shall be punished with imprisonment for a period not exceeding ten years, or with a fine not exceeding 20,000 riyals, if it is proven that he committed any of the following offenses:
- Exercising control over individuals or infringing upon any of their personal rights in any form, or assigning them duties not required of them by law.
- Administrative misuse, such as manipulating regulations and orders, including deliberately misinterpreting them or applying them incorrectly.
- Exploiting contracts—including bidding and procurement contracts—directly or indirectly for personal gain.
- Exploiting the efforts of individuals or employees through fictitious or artificial wages or salaries for personal benefit, in whole or in part.
- Using official information to exploit currency fluctuations, whether rising or falling, through exchange or trading.
- Squandering or neglecting public funds, whether in spending or preservation.
- Abuse of authority and coercion under the guise of official position, including torture, cruelty, confiscation of property, violation of personal freedoms, intimidation, unlawful fines, imprisonment, exile, forced residence, entering homes without legal authorization, coercion in lending, leave, buying or selling, and collecting taxes or fines beyond what is legally due.