Article 115 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
المادة 115 من اللائحة التنفيذية لنظام الإجراءات الجزائية · الفصل الخامس: إجراءات الجلسة ونظامها
A witness in the public criminal case is summoned through the public prosecutor when he relies on the witness's testimony, and the court may summon him when needed in the way it sees fit.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يكون استدعاء الشاهد - استناداً إلى المادة (الرابعة والستين بعد المائة) من النظام - في الدعوى الجزائية العامة عن طريق المدعي العام متى استند إلى شهادته، وللمحكمة - عند الاقتضاء - أن تستدعيه بالطريقة التي تراها مناسبة.
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 115 explained in plain English
This article of the Regulations sets the method of summoning a witness in the public criminal case, based on Article 164 of the Criminal Procedure Law:
- The rule: if the public prosecutor relies on a witness's testimony, the witness is summoned through the public prosecutor himself.
- The court's role: the court may, when needed, summon the witness in the way it sees fit.
The logic is that the one who relies on the witness is best able to bring him, while the court's power to step in remains whenever it sees a need. The article concerns the public criminal case, and does not deal with summoning private-right witnesses or the accused's witnesses.
It is followed by Article 116 of the Regulations, which deals with a witness failing to attend without an excuse the court accepts.
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 an assault case in Makkah, the public prosecutor relied on the testimony of a neighbor, so he arranged to summon him to the hearing. When the court saw a need at a later hearing, it summoned him in the way it saw fit.
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 115 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
Who summons the Public Prosecution's witness?
He is summoned through the public prosecutor when he relies on his testimony in the public criminal case.
May the court summon the witness itself?
Yes. The court may, when needed, summon him in the way it sees fit.
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.