Riyadh: Husbands or wives caught tampering with each others’ mobile phones risk tough measures under the Saudi law which criminalises such acts.
Lawbreakers convicting of spying on the spouse’s mobile phone will be sentenced up to one year in jail and/or fined SR500,000 ($133,000).
The Saudi law bans any access to the spouse’s mobile phones without their permission, said Arab News, citing the opinion of legal experts.
“A penalty of one year in prison and a fine of SR500,000 is applicable to partners who electronically send the information that they have gained access to. If the person only looks through the phone and does not forward or photograph any of the information, the penalty awarded is less, said the newspaper.
Legal experts consider that the penalty is imposed on the husband or wife in the case of illegally accessing the other’s smartphone, and it would be enough as proof that the phone is protected by a password that was deciphered to invade privacy.
Lawyer and legal advisor Abdul Aziz bin Batel made it clear that any crime committed using computers, mobile phones or cameras is considered a cybercrime and will be punished accordingly.
If the husband and wife gave out or sent the information obtained through electronic means of communication, the penalty then is one year in prison and a fine of SR500,000 ($133,000).
However, If the phone is accessed without using or sharing the information, the crime, in this case, will result in a penalty of a warning from the judge according to the circumstances of the case, and the damage caused to the person whose mobile phone was accessed, said Al-Arabiya
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