Article 104 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
المادة 104 من اللائحة التنفيذية لنظام الإجراءات الجزائية · الفصل الرابع: الادعاء بالحق الخاص
The court hearing the criminal case appoints a guardian for a person lacking full capacity who was harmed by the crime and has no guardian or trustee; the guardianship is limited to the case and recorded in its record without an instrument.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تقيم المحكمة ناظرة الدعوى الجزائية الولي على ناقص الأهلية الذي ليس له ولي أو وصي ولحقه ضرر من الجريمة ولو لم تكن مختصة نوعاً ومكاناً بالولاية، على أن تكون إقامة الولي محصورة في الدعوى المنظورة، وأن تُدوَّن في ضبطها دون إصدار صك.
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 104 explained in plain English
This article of the Regulations protects a person lacking full capacity (such as a minor) who was harmed by a crime and has no one to represent him. It includes:
- Conditions: the person lacking capacity has no guardian or trustee, and has suffered harm from the crime.
- Who appoints the guardian: the court hearing the criminal case itself, even if it does not have subject-matter and territorial jurisdiction over guardianship.
- Limits of the guardianship: it is limited to the case being heard only, and does not extend to his other affairs.
- Documentation: the appointment of the guardian is recorded in the case record without issuing an instrument.
The aim is that the harmed minor's right is not lost for lack of someone to claim on his behalf, without waiting for separate guardianship procedures before another court. Article 105 of the Regulations refers to this provision when a guardian is appointed for an accused who lacks capacity.
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
An orphaned child in Riyadh was injured in an assault, and had no guardian or trustee. The criminal court hearing the case appointed a guardian for him to claim his right in this case only, and recorded that in the case record without issuing a guardianship instrument.
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 104 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
Who represents a minor harmed by a crime if he has no guardian?
The court hearing the criminal case appoints a guardian for him, even if it does not have subject-matter and territorial jurisdiction over guardianship.
Is a guardianship instrument issued in this case?
No. The appointment of the guardian is recorded in the case record without issuing an instrument.
Does this guardianship cover all the minor's affairs?
No. It is limited to the case being heard only.
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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
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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
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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.