• Article 3 Article 3 Punishments

    • 3.1

      Any person committing, attempting or participating in a money laundering offence shall be liable to imprisonment for a period not exceeding seven (7) years and a fine not exceeding Bahrain Dinars One Million (BD 1,000,000/-).

      The punishment shall be imprisonment for a period of not less than five (5) years and fine of not less than Bahrain Dinars One Hundred Thousand (BD 100,000/-) in any of the following cases:

      (a) the accused has committed the offence through an organised criminal gang;
      (b) the accused has committed the offence by using his power or influence through an institution;
      (c) the accused has committed the offence for the purpose of disguising the source of the proceeds which are derived from criminal activity to appear as of a lawful source.

    • 3.2

      Without prejudice to the rights of bona fide third parties a person convicted of the offence of money laundering shall in addition to the punishment prescribed, be liable to confiscation of property which is the subject matter of the offence, or any other property owned by him or by his spouse or his minor children, equivalent in value to the property which is subject matter of the offence.

      The Court shall order the confiscation of such property on the extinction of the criminal proceedings due to the death of the accused provided that his heirs are unable to establish the lawful source thereof.

    • 3.3

      In cases where the offence of money laundering is committed by a corporate body and notwithstanding the liability of any natural person, the corporate body shall be liable to the punishment of a fine prescribed in this Law in addition to confiscation of the property which is the subject matter of the offence.

    • 3.4

      Any person who commits any of the offences related to money laundering shall be liable to imprisonment for a period not exceeding two (2) years and/or a fine not exceeding Bahrain Dinars Fifty Thousand (BD 50,000/-) or both.

    • 3.5

      Any person who contravenes the provisions of Regulations and Ministerial Regulations issued under this Law shall be liable to imprisonment for a period not exceeding three (3) months or a fine not exceeding Bahrain Dinars Twenty Thousand (BD 20,000/-) or both.

    • 3.6

      The provisions relating to extinction of criminal proceedings and prescription and limitation of punishments under the Code of Criminal Procedure or any other Law, shall not affect the punishments prescribed under this Law.

    • 3.7

      Any of the accused who reports a money laundering offence to the Enforcement Unit before such offence is known to the Enforcement Unit shall be exempted from the punishment prescribed under this Law.

      Where the accused reports the offence after it is known to the Enforcement Unit, his report shall lead to arrest or the other accused persons and attachment of property.