Article 10 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
المادة 10 من اللائحة التنفيذية لنظام الإجراءات الجزائية · الفصل الثاني: انقضاء الدعوى الجزائية
The article states what is issued when the public case lapses before being brought, either filing the papers or filing the case, and that lapse does not prevent investigation, confiscation or proceeding against the other accused.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- إذا انقضت الدعوى الجزائية العامة قبل رفعها إلى المحكمة فيصدر رئيس دائرة التحقيق أمراً بحفظ الأوراق وفق ما نصت عليه المادة (الثالثة والستون) من النظام والمادة (الثانية والأربعون) من اللائحة، أو بحفظ الدعوى وفق ما نصت عليه المادة (الرابعة والعشرون بعد المائة) من النظام والمادة (السابعة والثمانون) من اللائحة، وذلك بحسب الأحوال.
2 - انقضاء الدعوى الجزائية العامة بوفاة المتهم لا يمنع جهة التحقيق من مباشرة التحقيق، أو استكماله.
3 - انقضاء الدعوى الجزائية العامة لا يمنع السير في إجراءات مصادرة ما تُعد حيازته محلاً للمصادرة.
4 - لا أثر لانقضاء الدعوى الجزائية العامة في حق أحد المتهمين - وفقاً للمادة (الثانية والعشرين) من النظام - في سيرها على الباقين.
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 10 explained in plain English
This article of the Regulations deals with the effects of the lapse of the public criminal case, and sets four rules:
- Lapse before referral to court: the head of the investigation circuit, as the case may be, issues one of two orders:
- Filing the papers under Article 63 of the Law and Article 42 of the Regulations. Article 42 requires the order to file the papers to be in writing and reasoned, and to be made before any investigation step is taken, and treats it as an administrative measure that the Authority may withdraw at any time.
- Filing the case under Article 124 of the Law and Article 87 of the Regulations. Article 87 requires that the filing be preceded by an investigation step, and regulates notifying the heirs of the claimant of the private right of the filing order.
- Death of the accused: lapse of the public case by the death of the accused does not prevent the investigating body from starting or completing the investigation.
- Confiscation: lapse of the public case does not prevent proceeding with the procedures for confiscating what it is unlawful to possess and is subject to confiscation.
- Several accused: lapse of the public case as to one of the accused, under Article 22 of the Law, does not affect its progress against the rest.
The difference between the two orders in the first paragraph concerns the timing of filing: filing the papers is before any investigation step, and filing the case is after one of its steps, as Articles 42 and 87 explain. Anyone in whose case a filing order was issued and who wants to know his position may consult a lawyer specializing in criminal cases.
Practical example
An accused in a smuggling case died before it was referred to court, and he had two partners. The public case lapsed as to him, but this does not prevent the investigating body from completing the investigation, nor the confiscation of the seized prohibited goods, and the case continues against the two partners.
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 10 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
What is the difference between filing the papers and filing the case?
Under Articles 42 and 87 of the Regulations, filing the papers is before any investigation step, whereas filing the case requires that an investigation step precede it.
Does the investigation stop if the accused dies?
No. Lapse of the public case by the death of the accused does not prevent the investigating body from starting or completing the investigation.
Are prohibited items confiscated after the case lapses?
Yes. Lapse of the public case does not prevent proceeding with the procedures for confiscating what it is unlawful to possess.
If the case lapses for one accused, does it lapse for the rest?
No. Its lapse as to one of them has no effect on its progress against the rest.
Articles this article refers to
- Article 42
The article requires an order to archive papers to be written and reasoned, and makes archiving before any investigation procedure an administrative act that the Bureau may reverse at any time.
1- يجب أن يكون الأمر بحفظ الأوراق - المنصوص عليه في المادة (الثالثة والستين) من النظام - مكتوباً ومسبباً. 2 - يكون حفظ الأوراق قبل اتخاذ أي إجراء من إجراءات الت
- Article 87
This article of the Regulations requires an investigation procedure to precede archiving of a case, and regulates notifying the heirs of the private claimant of the archiving order.
1- يشترط لحفظ الدعوى - وفق المادة (الرابعة والعشرين بعد المائة) من النظام - أن يسبقه إجراء من إجراءات التحقيق. 2 - يحصل تبليغ جميع ورثة المدعي بالحق الخاص بأمر
More articles on Criminal Case and Its Lapse
- Article 2
The article requires the Authority to notify the court in writing of the names of the authorized public prosecutors, and explains that conducting the public case includes presenting evidence, producing it, and bearing the burden of proof.
1- تبعث الهيئة كتاباً إلى المحكمة بأسماء المدعين العامين المفوضين بإقامة الدعوى الجزائية العامة أمامها. 2 - مباشرة الدعوى الجزائية العامة أمام المحاكم المختصة ت
- Article 3
The article explains that the case meant in Article 16 of the Law is the private criminal case, and governs how the defendant and the public prosecutor are notified in it.
1- الدعوى الجزائية المشار إليها في المادة (السادسة عشرة) من النظام هي الدعوى الجزائية الخاصة التي تشتمل على حق خاص وحق عام. 2 - لا يبلغ المدعى عليه في الدعوى ال
- Article 4
The article defines crimes requiring a private right of individuals as those whose harm is confined to the victim, and explains the effect of a complaint where there are several victims or accused.
1- الجرائم الواجب فيها حق خاص للأفراد المشار إليها في المادة (السابعة عشرة) من النظام هي ما اقتصر الضرر فيها على المجني عليه. 2 - إذا كان هناك أكثر من مجني عليه
- Article 5
The article explains that the victim and heir meant in Article 18 of the Law are those with limited or no legal capacity, and requires recording what the court does when their interest conflicts with their representative's.
1- يُقصـد بالمجني عليه ووارثه المشار إليهما في المـادة (الثامنة عشرة) من النظام؛ من كان ناقص الأهليـة أو فاقدهـا. 2 - يُدون في ضبط الدعوى ما تجريه المحكمة التي
- Article 6
The article explains that the case mentioned in Article 19 of the Law is the public case, and sets how the court notifies whoever brought it and his duty to inform the court of what he did.
1- الدعوى المشار إليها في المادة (التاسعة عشرة) من النظام هي الدعوى الجزائية العامة. 2 - يكون إبلاغ المحكمة لمن رفع الدعوى - في الحالتين المنصوص عليهما في الماد
- Article 8
The article explains the in-law relationship and the enmity that bar a member of the Authority from handling a case, and lets any opponent request disqualification of the investigator before or during the investigation.
1- لا يشترط لقيام صلة المصاهرة المنصوص عليها في الفقرة (1) من المادة (الحادية والعشرين) من النظام؛ أن تكون رابطة الزوجية قائمة. 2 - العداوة التي تمنع عضو الهيئة
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.