Article 19 of the Saudi Counter-Terrorism Crimes and Financing Law
المادة 19 من نظام مكافحة جرائم الإرهاب وتمويله · الفصل الثالث: الإجراءات
Article 19 lets the Public Prosecution detain an accused for periods of up to 30 days each, not exceeding 12 months in total; anything longer is referred to the competent court.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تختص النيابة العامة بإصدار أمر توقيف أي متهم في جريمة من الجرائم المنصوص عليها في النظام مدة أو مدداً متعاقبة لا يزيد أي منها على (ثلاثين) يوماً ولا تزيد في مجموعها على (اثني عشر) شهراً. وفي الحالات التي تتطلب التوقيف مدة أطول، يرفع الأمر إلى المحكمة المختصة لتقرير ما تراه في شأن التمديد.
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 19 explained in plain English
This article regulates the detention of the accused in crimes under the Law during the investigation, and sets clear time limits:
- The Public Prosecution has jurisdiction to issue the detention order.
- Detention is for a period or successive periods, none of which exceeds 30 days.
- The total of the periods may not exceed 12 months.
- If the case requires longer detention, the Public Prosecution does not decide it itself; the matter is referred to the competent court to decide what it sees fit regarding extension.
The Public Prosecution can therefore detain for up to 12 months through successive orders, and anything beyond that needs a court decision; the court, under Article 1, is the Specialized Criminal Court. The article does not state a maximum for what the court decides.
This article follows Article 18, which gives the Public Prosecution investigation and bringing of the case, and precedes Article 20, which allows the Public Prosecution to bar contact with or visits to the accused for no more than 90 days. A person with a detained relative who wants to know the status of the detention should consult a lawyer who specializes in criminal cases.
Practical example
An accused in a terrorist financing crime was detained, and the Public Prosecution renewed his detention through successive orders of 30 days each until the total reached 12 months. If the Public Prosecution sees a need to detain him longer, it must refer the matter to the competent court to decide what it sees fit regarding extension.
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 19 of the Saudi Counter-Terrorism Crimes and Financing Law
What is the maximum detention period in terrorism cases by order of the Public Prosecution?
Each period may not exceed 30 days, and the total of the periods ordered by the Public Prosecution may not exceed 12 months.
Can detention exceed 12 months?
Yes, if the case requires it, but the matter is referred to the competent court to decide what it sees fit regarding extension.
Who issues the detention order in terrorism crimes?
The Public Prosecution has jurisdiction to issue the detention order.
More articles on Detention and Travel Ban
- Article 2
Article 2 treats all crimes under the Counter-Terrorism Crimes and Financing Law as major crimes requiring detention.
تعد الجرائم المنصوص عليها في النظام من الجرائم الكبيرة الموجبة للتوقيف.
- Article 10
Article 10 allows the head of State Security to impose a travel ban on a suspect, with the order put to the Prosecution within 72 hours, and the Attorney General to ban an accused person, with notice to the person optionally withheld.
1- لرئيس أمن الدولة منع المشتبه به في ارتكاب أي من الجرائم المنصوص عليها في النظام من السفر إلى خارج المملكة، على أن يتم عرض أمر المنع على النيابة العامة خلال م
- Article 12
Article 12 allows the Public Prosecution to release a person detained in a crime under the Law temporarily, unless it would harm the investigation or there is fear of flight or disappearance.
للنيابة العامة الإفراج المؤقت عن أي موقوف في إحدى الجرائم المنصوص عليها في النظام، ما لم يترتب على ذلك إضرار بمصلحة التحقيقات أو كان يخشى هربه أو اختفاؤه.
- Article 13
Article 13 allows the Head of State Security to temporarily release a person convicted of a crime under the Law while the sentence is being served, under rules and conditions set by the Regulations.
لرئيس أمن الدولة -وفق ضوابط وشروط تحددها اللائحة- الإفراج المؤقت عن المحكوم عليه في جريمة من الجرائم المنصوص عليها في النظام أثناء تنفيذ العقوبة.
- Article 14
Article 14 gives the Head of State Security the power to set the rules, procedures and measures needed to ensure the security situation of persons released in crimes under the Law.
لرئيس أمن الدولة وضع ما يلزم من ضوابط وإجراءات وتدابير لضمان سلامة الوضع الأمني للمفرج عنهم في الجرائم المنصوص عليها في النظام.
- Article 20
Article 20 allows the Public Prosecution to bar contact with or visits to the accused for up to 90 days when the interest of the investigation requires it, without prejudice to the right to notify his family of the arrest.
دون الإخلال بالحق في إبلاغ ذوي المتهم بالقبض عليه؛ للنيابة العامة أن تأمر بمنع الاتصال بالمتهم أو زيارته مدة لا تزيد على (تسعين) يوماً إذا اقتضت مصلحة التحقيق ذ
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.