Article 103 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
المادة 103 من اللائحة التنفيذية لنظام الإجراءات الجزائية · الفصل الرابع: الادعاء بالحق الخاص
If the public criminal case expires before a private-right claim is filed for one of the reasons in Article 22 of the Law, the right to claim the private right remains before the competent court.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
إذا انقضت الدعوى الجزائية العامة قبل رفع دعوى الحق الخاص لأحد الأسباب المذكورة في المادة (الثانية والعشرين) من النظام، فيكون الحق في المطالبة بالحق الخاص 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 103 explained in plain English
This article of the Regulations answers a question that matters to the person harmed by a crime: what happens to my private right if the public case ends before I file my claim?
- The situation: the public criminal case expires before the private-right claim is filed.
- Reason for expiry: it is one of the reasons mentioned in Article 22 of the Criminal Procedure Law.
- Effect: the private right does not lapse; instead the right to claim it is before the competent court.
This means that the expiry of the public right does not mean the loss of the harmed person's right; the two claims are independent, and the harmed person can claim his private right before the court competent to hear it.
This article does not list the reasons for expiry but refers to Article 22 of the Law, so refer to it to learn them. Nor does the article name the competent court.
If you have a pending case and need advice on your specific situation, it is best to consult a lawyer who specializes in criminal cases.
Practical example
Fahd's car was vandalized, and before he filed his compensation claim the public criminal case expired for one of the reasons in Article 22 of the Law. Fahd keeps the right to claim his private right to compensation before the competent court.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
How we write and review contentCriminal Law lawyers: ask a specialist about your case
Describe your situation briefly and we'll suggest a lawyer who specialises in this law
Criminal Law lawyers
Lawyers who handle this kind of case
Ibrahim Al Salem Law Firm
Active contributor
Dr. Ali Al-Rubaie Law Office and Ittihad Al-Asr Legal Company
Frequently asked questions about Article 103 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
Does my private right lapse if the public case expires?
No. If the public case expires before the private-right claim is filed for one of the reasons in Article 22 of the Law, the right to claim the private right remains before the competent court.
Where do I claim my private right after the public case expires?
Before the competent court, according to Article 103 of the Regulations.
What are the reasons for the expiry of the public case?
This article refers to Article 22 of the Criminal Procedure Law without listing them.
More articles on Private Claim and Compensation
- 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 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 11
The article provides that the pardon of some victims or heirs does not prevent the others' case from continuing, and requires observing Article 29 of the Law and Article 17 of the Regulations when the pardon is ratified.
1 - إذا كان هناك أكثر من مجني عليه في الدعوى الجزائية الخاصة أو كان له أكثر من وارث؛ فلا يمنع عفو البعض من استمرار دعوى الباقين. 2 - يُراعى عند تصديق عفو المجني
- Article 17
The article explains the effect of the private-right claimant waiving his right on bringing the public case, and regulates ratifying and recording the waiver of qisas and the slander hadd penalty.
1 - إذا نزل المدعي بالحق الخاص عن حقه فلا يجوز رفع الدعوى الجزائية العامة، إلا بمقتضى ما نصت عليه المادة (السابعة عشرة) من النظام والمادة (الرابعة) من اللائحة.
- Article 41
The article gives a person harmed by the disclosure, without legal justification, of information about seized items and papers by anyone referred to in Article 61 of the Law the right to sue before the competent court.
للمتضرر من قيام أيٍّ من المشار إليهم في المادة (الحادية والستين) من النظام بإفشاء معلومات عن الأشياء والأوراق المضبوطة دون مسوغ نظامي؛ حق إقامة الدعوى على المتس
- Article 47
The article regulates adding the private claimant's claim to the case file, attendance at investigation procedures and barring it when necessary, multiple lawyers, and the duty not to disclose investigation secrets.
1- إذا قبل المحقق ادعاء المدعي بالحق الخاص استناداً إلى الفقرة (1) من المادة (التاسعة والستين) من النظام؛ فيلحقه بملف الدعوى، ويشير إليه في لائحة الدعوى. 2 - يك
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.