Judicial principles and studies
Issuing a Dishonored Cheque: Limits of Criminal and Civil Liability
A brief summary outlining the distinction between criminal and civil liability for issuing a dishonored cheque, the evidentiary effect of a criminal judgment in civil proceedings, and limits on compensation and the source of obligation.
Updated: 10 September 2026
Prepared and reviewed by: Ashraf Al-Khawaja
Subject
The study clarifies the distinction between criminal and civil liability arising from issuing a dishonored cheque, explains the evidentiary effect of a criminal judgment in civil proceedings, and addresses how the cheque’s obligation may be legally characterized.
Summary
- A criminal verdict of conviction or acquittal for issuing a dishonored cheque does not bar civil courts from adjudicating personal claims arising from the same facts. - Penal compensation is confined to harm caused directly by the criminal act, whereas civil liability is broader and covers contractual breaches or torts regardless of whether a crime occurred. - A criminal judgment has evidentiary effect in civil courts concerning the occurrence of the act and its attribution to the actor, but it does not bind the civil court on the amount of compensation or the source of the obligation. - Although a cheque is a commercial instrument, the parties’ relationship may stem from a civil contract or other civil obligation, so the source of the liability may be contractual rather than solely the criminal act. This content is an educational summary only; it is not a judicial text nor legal advice.
Practical significance
This is a general educational summary based on the points published in the official source. It does not replace the original material or a review by Ashraf Al-Khawaja before relying on it for any action.
Sources and references
Verify the official text and latest amendments before relying on this material professionally.