Article 118 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
المادة 118 من اللائحة التنفيذية لنظام الإجراءات الجزائية · الفصل الخامس: إجراءات الجلسة ونظامها
If the court sees no benefit in hearing testimony in one of the two cases in Article 167 of the Law, it records that and the reason in the case record, and may request a medical report on the witness's condition.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- إذا لم تر المحكمة فائدة من سماع الشهادة في أيٍّ من الحالتين المنصوص عليهما في المادة (السابعة والستين بعد المائة) من النظام؛ فتدون ذلك وسببه في ضبط الدعوى.
2 - للمحكمة عند الاقتضاء طلب تقرير طبي عن حالة الشاهد.
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 118 explained in plain English
This article of the Regulations deals with cases in which a witness's testimony may not be useful, based on Article 167 of the Criminal Procedure Law, and contains two provisions:
- Recording not hearing and its reason: if the court sees no benefit in hearing the testimony in either of the two cases provided for in Article 167 of the Law, it must record that, with the reason, in the case record.
- The medical report: the court may, when needed, request a medical report on the witness's condition.
The benefit of recording is that the decision not to hear testimony is not left without reasons, so the parties know why and it is fixed in the record. The medical report helps the court assess the witness's condition before it decides.
This article does not state what the two cases meant are; they are stated in Article 167 of the Law, so refer to it to learn them.
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 Dammam, one of the parties presented a witness whose condition the court thought might fall within one of the two cases in Article 167 of the Law. The court requested a medical report on his condition, then decided there was no benefit in hearing his testimony and recorded that, with the reason, in the case record.
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 118 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
May the court decide not to hear a witness's testimony?
If it sees no benefit in hearing it in one of the two cases in Article 167 of the Law, it records that and the reason in the record.
Can the court request a medical report on the witness?
Yes. The court may, when needed, request a medical report on the witness's condition.
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.