Article 117 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
المادة 117 من اللائحة التنفيذية لنظام الإجراءات الجزائية · الفصل الخامس: إجراءات الجلسة ونظامها
When a witness who gave statements he knows to be untrue is punished at the court's discretion under Article 166 of the Law, Article 144 of the Law and Article 102 of the Regulations are observed.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يراعى عند تعزير شاهد أدلى بأقوال يعلم أنها غير صحيحة وفقاً للمادة (السادسة والستين بعد المائة) من النظام؛ ما ورد في المادة (الرابعة والأربعين بعد المائة) من النظام والمادة (الثانية بعد المائة) من اللائحة.
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 117 explained in plain English
This article of the Regulations concerns a witness who gave statements he knows to be untrue, that is, false testimony, and his discretionary punishment under Article 166 of the Criminal Procedure Law.
The article sets no penalty; it specifies the procedure to be observed in imposing the discretionary punishment, referring to two provisions:
- Article 144 of the Law.
- Article 102 of the Regulations, which provides that if the court decides to hear the offense itself it observes Article 101 of the Regulations (recording in the original case record and issuing the judgment in a separate instrument), and if it decides to refer it to the Bureau or another competent court it draws up a detailed report attached to the case file.
The practical result is that false testimony that appears while a case is being heard is dealt with in one of the two ways set out in Article 102: either the court hears it and rules on it in a separate instrument, or it refers it with a detailed report.
This article does not state the amount of the discretionary punishment or its conditions, so refer to Article 166 of the Law for that.
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 Riyadh it became clear to the court that one of the witnesses had given statements he knew to be untrue. It decided to consider his discretionary punishment itself, so it recorded the incident in the original case record and issued judgment against him in a separate instrument, observing Article 102 of the Regulations.
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 117 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
What is the procedure for punishing a false witness?
Article 144 of the Law and Article 102 of the Regulations are observed: either the court hears the offense and rules in a separate instrument, or it refers it with a detailed report.
Does this article set a penalty for false testimony?
No. It regulates the procedure only, and the discretionary punishment is under Article 166 of the Criminal Procedure Law.
Is the judgment on a false witness issued in the instrument of the original case?
If the court hears the offense itself, then under Article 101, to which Article 102 refers, the judgment is issued in a separate instrument.
Articles this article refers to
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.