Article 111 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
المادة 111 من اللائحة التنفيذية لنظام الإجراءات الجزائية · الفصل الخامس: إجراءات الجلسة ونظامها
The public prosecutor's request to amend his statement of claim is made by a supplementary letter or orally at the hearing, and the court assesses adequate opportunity for the accused to prepare his defense on the amendment.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- يكون طلب المدعي العام تعديل لائحة دعواه - استناداً إلى المادة (التاسعة والخمسين بعد المائة) من النظام - بكتاب إلحاقي، أو مشافهةً أثناء جلسة المحكمة.
2 - يرجع للمحكمة تقدير الفرصة الكافية للمتهم لإعداد دفاعه في شأن تعديل المدعي العام لائحة دعواه.
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 111 explained in plain English
This article of the Regulations regulates how the public prosecutor requests an amendment of his statement of claim, based on Article 159 of the Criminal Procedure Law, and the corresponding right of the accused.
- Form of the request: it is made in one of two ways:
- A supplementary letter submitted to the court.
- Or orally during the court session.
- The accused's right to prepare: it is for the court to assess the adequate opportunity for the accused to prepare his defense on the amendment.
In practice this means the accused is not surprised by an amendment of the case without being given suitable time to respond to it, but fixing this time is left to the court according to the nature of the amendment and the circumstances of the case, and the article sets no specific period.
This article does not state the scope or limits of a permitted amendment; those are found in Article 159 of the Law. This provision is similar to what Article 94 of the Regulations set in leaving the assessment of the accused's extension to prepare his defense to the circuit.
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
In a case in Jeddah, the public prosecutor asked orally during the hearing to amend his statement of claim. The accused's lawyer asked for time to respond to the amendment, so the court assessed the adequate opportunity and postponed the hearing to a later session.
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 111 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
How does the public prosecutor amend the statement of claim?
By a supplementary letter or orally during the court session.
Is the accused entitled to time to respond to an amendment of the case?
Yes. It is for the court to assess the adequate opportunity for him to prepare his defense on the amendment.
How long is the extension after the statement of claim is amended?
The article sets no period and leaves its assessment to the court.
More articles on Criminal Trial Procedures
- Article 7
The article explains that the acts mentioned in Article 20 of the Law are those occurring outside the session, and sets referral to a larger number of judges when needed and hearing them in a separate record.
1- يُقصد بالأفعال المشار إليها في المادة (العشرين) من النظام؛ ما كان خارج الجلسة، وتطبق فيما كان داخلها أحكام الفصل (الثالث) من الباب (السادس) من النظام وأحكام
- Article 91
This article of the Regulations leaves it to the court hearing the case to assess whether judgment in a criminal case depends on the result of another criminal case, and requires it, if it stays the case, to inform the other court.
1- يُرجع في تقدير توقف الحكم في الدعوى الجزائية على نتيجة الفصل في دعوى جزائية أخرى؛ إلى المحكمة التي تنظر الدعوى الجزائية. 2 - إذا قررت المحكمة وقف دعوى منظورة
- Article 92
This article of the Regulations provides that if a court or circuit finds it lacks jurisdiction it refers the case by decision to the competent one, and if the second also finds it lacks jurisdiction the matter goes to the Supreme Court to designate the competent one.
إذا رأت محكمة أو دائرة عدم اختصاصها في دعوى مرفوعة إليها وأنها من اختصاص محكمة أو دائرة أخرى، فتصدر قراراً بذلك، وتحيلها إلى المحكمة أو الدائرة الأخرى ، فإن رأت
- Article 93
This article of the Regulations requires that if a case is brought before two courts or circuits and each decides it has jurisdiction, they stop hearing it and send the papers to the Supreme Court to designate the competent one.
إذا رفعت دعوى إلى محكمتين أو دائرتين وقررت كل منهما اختصاصها؛ فتصدر كل منهما قراراً بذلك، ويجب عليهما إيقاف نظر الدعوى ورفع الأوراق إلى المحكمة العليا عن طريق ا
- Article 94
The article leaves it to the competent judicial circuit to assess the necessity that allows shortening the time to appear, and the length of the extension the accused requests to prepare a defense.
يعود إلى الدائرة القضائية المختصة بنظر الدعوى تقدير الضرورة التي تجيز إنقاص موعد الحضور في الدعوى الجزائية وتقدير مدة المهلة التي يطلب المتهم منحه إياها لإعداد
- Article 95
If the accused's place of residence cannot be found after adequate searching, the bailiff draws up a detailed report, and the bailiffs' department hands a copy of the notice to the emirate, governorate or center responsible for the place of notification.
إذا تعذرت معرفة مكان إقامة المتهم بعد البحث الكافي عنه وبعد الاستعانة بالجهات الأخرى ذات العلاقة - لتبليغه بالحضور أمام المحكمة وفق ما قضت به المادة (السابعة وا
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.