Cheque must be presented to bank within 30 days, lawyer warns

Lawyer Abdullah Al-Baradi has warned that cheque holders risk losing their rights if they fail to present the cheque to the bank and take legal action within the specified deadlines. He explained that a cheque must be submitted to the bank within 30 days of receipt.

Speaking to the "Ya Hala" program on Rotana Khalijia, Al-Baradi said that when a cheque is presented, the bank has two options: either pay the amount or issue a protest note indicating insufficient funds in the account.

He clarified that after obtaining the protest note, the cheque holder must submit it to the Enforcement Court within six months to secure their right to claim the cheque as an enforceable instrument. The protest note should also be submitted to the police, as the incident is considered a crime, and the police will refer the case to the Public Prosecution for further action.

He added that the penalty for this public offense can reach up to three years in prison and a fine of 50,000 riyals (SAR), as issuing a cheque without sufficient funds is considered a "crime."

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Al-Baradi also noted that, in private claims, the cheque holder must submit the protest note to the Enforcement Court within six months. He explained that missing this deadline causes the cheque to lose its status as a commercial instrument and become an ordinary debt.