Article 27 of the Saudi Counter-Terrorism Crimes and Financing Law
المادة 27 من نظام مكافحة جرائم الإرهاب وتمويله · الفصل الثالث: الإجراءات
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 من أدلى بهما. ويجب أن توفر الحماية اللازمة التي تقتضيها حالة الشاهد أو الخبير وظروف القضية المطلوب فيها، وأنواع الأخطار المتوقعة.
2- لرئيس المحكمة المختصة -أثناء نظر الدعوى- السماح بتصوير أو تسجيل أو بث أو عرض أي وقائع من جلسات المحاكمة.
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 27 explained in plain English
This article contains two provisions concerning the conduct of trial sessions:
First: witnesses and experts
- The competent court may, where necessary, examine experts and hear witnesses apart from the accused and his lawyer.
- The accused or his lawyer is informed of the content of the testimony and the expert report, but without revealing the identity of the person who gave them.
- The necessary protection must be provided to the witness or expert according to his situation, the circumstances of the case and the types of expected risks.
The accused thus learns the substance of what was said against him so that he can respond, while the person who gave it is protected. The phrase "where necessary" means this is not the default in every case, but applies when need requires it.
Second: filming and broadcasting sessions
The president of the competent court may, while the case is being heard, allow filming, recording, broadcasting or showing of any events from the trial sessions. This is by his permission.
The competent court, under Article 1, is the Specialized Criminal Court. The article follows Article 26 on connected crimes, and precedes Article 28, which requires urgent execution of precautionary seizure orders. A party to one of these cases should consult a lawyer who specializes in criminal cases.
Practical example
In a case before the Specialized Criminal Court, one of the witnesses feared for his safety. The court heard his testimony apart from the accused and his lawyer, then informed them of the content of the testimony without naming the witness, while providing the protection his situation required.
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 27 of the Saudi Counter-Terrorism Crimes and Financing Law
Does the accused know the witness's identity in terrorism cases?
The court may, where necessary, hear the witness apart from the accused and his lawyer, and they are informed of the content of the testimony without revealing the witness's identity.
May trial sessions be filmed?
The president of the competent court may, while the case is being heard, allow filming, recording, broadcasting or showing of any events from the trial sessions.
Is protection provided for witnesses?
Yes. The article requires the necessary protection that the witness's or expert's situation, the circumstances of the case and the types of expected risks call for.
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 18
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.
تختص النيابة العامة بالتحقيق في الجرائم المنصوص عليها في النظام وإقامة الدعوى الجزائية ومباشرتها أمام 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
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.