The Overnight and Anti-Corruption Authority (better known as Nazaha) can now enter into settlement agreements in corruption cases dating back to before 4 November 2017, under fresh regulations published in the official gazette Umm Al Qura. The cabinet approved these rules back in July.

The catch: The guilty party must voluntarily request a settlement, and commit to return the money involved in the crime in addition to any proceeds derived from it. They will also be mandated to pay an annual fee of 5% of the disputed monetary amount, until the settlement is completed — with an exemption for individuals that submit settlement requests within a year of this issuance. Satisfying these conditions means no public criminal case for the crimes covered in the settlement agreement.

More requirements: All settlements must be fulfilled over a maximum period of three years, and public criminal cases will be levied against individuals that fail to meet this timeline. There will be no statute of limitations on concealing information in relation to the crime, with a public case remaining an option even after it is approved or executed.

Who does all this apply to? Individuals eligible for requesting settlements include those who are already convicted by a court, currently on trial, or under investigation or preliminary inquiry.

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