Article 18 of the Saudi Counter-Terrorism Crimes and Financing Law
المادة 18 من نظام مكافحة جرائم الإرهاب وتمويله · الفصل الثالث: الإجراءات
Article 18 gives the Public Prosecution jurisdiction to investigate crimes under the Law and to file and pursue the criminal case before the competent court.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تختص النيابة العامة بالتحقيق في الجرائم المنصوص عليها في النظام وإقامة الدعوى الجزائية ومباشرتها أمام المحكمة المختصة.
This is the official Arabic wording, the only legally binding version. We do not translate the law itself; the explanation below is ours. Official source: Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers
Article 18 explained in plain English
This article identifies the body responsible for investigation and prosecution in terrorism and terrorist financing crimes: the Public Prosecution. Its jurisdiction covers three matters:
- Investigation of the crimes set out in the Law.
- Filing the criminal case, that is, bringing it.
- Pursuing it before the competent court, that is, following it and arguing it.
The competent court, as defined in Article 1, is the Specialized Criminal Court. So the Public Prosecution is the body that brings the criminal case in these crimes and pursues it before this court until judgment is issued.
The Public Prosecution is therefore the body that investigates the case and brings the charge before the court, while the Specialized Criminal Court decides the case.
This article follows Article 17, on Customs seizure of suspected items, and precedes Article 19, which gives the Public Prosecution the power to issue detention orders and sets their periods. A person summoned for investigation in one of these cases should consult a lawyer who specializes in criminal cases.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
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Frequently asked questions about Article 18 of the Saudi Counter-Terrorism Crimes and Financing Law
Who investigates terrorism cases in Saudi Arabia?
The Public Prosecution has jurisdiction to investigate crimes under the Law and to file and pursue the criminal case.
Before which court are terrorism cases brought?
Before the competent court, which is the Specialized Criminal Court under the definitions in Article 1.
More articles on Trial before the Specialized Criminal Court
- Article 16
Article 16 allows a person harmed by the accused or convicted in crimes under the Law to request compensation from the Head of State Security before going to court; a settlement committee decides within 90 days.
لمن أصابه ضرر من المتهمين أو المحكوم عليهم في جريمة من الجرائم المنصوص عليها في النظام، أن يتقدم إلى رئيس أمن الدولة بطلب التعويض قبل التقدم إلى المحكمة المختصة
- Article 23
Article 23 provides that investigation and the criminal case in crimes under the Law do not depend on a complaint by the victim, and a private claimant may bring his claim after the investigation of the public right ends.
لا تتوقف إجراءات التحقيق أو إقامة الدعوى الجزائية في الجرائم المنصوص عليها في النظام أو الجرائم المرتبطة بها على شكوى المجني عليه، أو من ينوب عنه، أو وارثه من ب
- Article 24
Article 24 sets out what the Specialized Criminal Court decides: crimes under the Law, annulment and compensation claims, and requests to enforce foreign judgments, along with the routes of appeal and objection.
تتولى المحكمة المختصة الفصل في أي مما يأتي: 1- الجرائم المنصوص عليها في النظام. 2- دعاوى إلغاء القرارات ودعاوى التعويض المتعلقة بتطبيق أحكام النظام. 3- طلبات تن
- Article 25
Article 25 allows the court to issue a judgment in absentia against an accused of a crime under the Law if he was notified through the means of notification or an official media outlet, and he is retried upon arrest or appearance.
تصدر المحكمة حكمًا غيابيًّا في حق المتهم بارتكاب جريمة من الجرائم المنصوص عليها في النظام إذا تم التبليغ من المحكمة عن طريق وسائل التبليغ أو إحدى وسائل الإعلام
- Article 26
Article 26 makes the competent court decide all connected crimes charged against the accused if one of them is a crime under the Law, unless the case papers were separated before being filed with the court.
إذا وقعت عدة جرائم يرتبط بعضها ببعض، وكانت إحداها جريمة من الجرائم المنصوص عليها في النظام، فتتولى المحكمة المختصة، الفصل في جميع الجرائم الموجهة إلى المتهم، ما
- Article 27
Article 27 allows the court to hear witnesses and experts apart from the accused and his lawyer while informing them of the testimony without revealing identity, requires their protection, and lets the court's president allow filming of sessions.
1- للمحكمة المختصة -عند الاقتضاء- مناقشة الخبراء وسماع الشهود بمعزل عن المتهم ومحاميه ويبلغ المتهم أو محاميه بما تضمنته الشهادة وتقرير الخبرة دون الكشف عن هوية
The texts are reproduced from the official website of the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers for reference; where they differ, the officially published Arabic text prevails. This content is not legal advice.