Article 121 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
المادة 121 من اللائحة التنفيذية لنظام الإجراءات الجزائية · الفصل الخامس: إجراءات الجلسة ونظامها
This article of the Regulations requires orders of the court issued under Article 170 of the Law, and their reasons, to be recorded in the case record, and regulates keeping seized items and giving a receipt to whoever submitted a document.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- يدون أي أمر تصدره المحكمة - وفقاً للمادة (السبعين بعد المائة) من النظام - وأسبابه في ضبط الدعوى، ويصدر به كتاب رسمي.
2 - يُضمّن الكتاب الرسمي الذي تصدره المحكمة لضبط شيء متعلق بالقضية تسمية الجهة التي تراها المحكمة للقيام بالضبط.
3 - للمحكمة إبقاء المضبوطات المشار إليها في المادة (السبعين بعد المائة) من النظام لديها، أو لدى إحدى الجهات المختصة.
4 ـ إذا رأت المحكمة إبقاء مستند أو أي شيء آخر قدم إليها أثناء المحاكمة، فتُسلم مَنْ قدمه سنداً بذلك إذا طلبه.
5 - تكـون إجراءات تحريز وردّ ما ضبط استناداً إلى المادة (السبعين بعد المائة) من النظام؛ وفقاً للأحكام ذات الصلة المنصوص عليها في النظام واللائحة.
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 121 explained in plain English
This article of the Regulations regulates the procedural side of the orders issued by the criminal court based on Article 170 of the Criminal Procedure Law, and the seizing and keeping of items related to the case that follow from them.
- Recording and the official letter: every order the court issues under that article is recorded with its reasons in the case record, and an official letter is issued for it.
- Naming the seizing authority: if the official letter is for seizing something related to the case, it must name the authority the court sees fit to carry out the seizure.
- Where seized items are kept: the court may keep the seized items referred to in Article 170 of the Law with itself, or with one of the competent authorities.
- A receipt for whoever submitted a document: if the court decides to keep a document or anything else submitted to it during the trial, it gives the person who submitted it a receipt for that if he asks for one.
- Sealing and return: the procedures for sealing what is seized under Article 170 of the Law and returning it follow the relevant provisions of the Law and the Regulations.
The practical benefit of this article is that every court order in this matter is fixed in writing and reasoned, and whoever handed the court a document keeps proof of that if he asks. It comes within the articles on session procedures, including Article 120 on the report of moving to inspect, and Article 122 on requesting an expert's opinion or a competent authority's statement. If you have something kept with the court or another authority and want to know how to recover it, it is best to consult a lawyer who specializes in criminal cases.
Practical example
During a criminal trial in Riyadh, Khalid submitted the original of a contract he relied on in his defense, and the court decided to keep the original. Khalid asked for proof that he handed over the contract, so the court gave him a receipt for it as this article of the Regulations provides.
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 121 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
Am I entitled to a receipt if the court keeps a document I submitted?
Yes. If the court decides to keep a document or something submitted to it during the trial, it gives the person who submitted it a receipt for that if he asks.
Where does the court keep seized items?
The court may keep the seized items referred to in Article 170 of the Law with itself or with one of the competent authorities.
Must the court's seizure orders be in writing?
Yes. The order and its reasons are recorded in the case record and an official letter is issued for it, naming the authority that carries out the seizure.
More articles on Seized Items and Their Return
- Article 35
The article regulates sealing and guarding after a search, securing weapons, explosives, narcotics, cash and jewelry, handing over seized items, and the ban on disposing of them without the Bureau's permission.
1- على رجل الضبط الجنائي قبل مغادرة مكان التفتيش أن يضع الأختام على الأماكن التي فيها آثار أو أشياء تفيد في كشف الحقيقة ويتعذر تحريزها، أو أن يضعها تحت الحراسة.
- Article 36
The article makes breaking the seals on containers of seized items the investigator's task after checking the seal is intact, with a report, resealing, and inviting the accused, his agent or the person from whom the items were seized.
1- يكون فض أختام أحراز المضبوطات - استناداً إلى المادة (الحادية والخمسين) من النظام - بمعرفة المحقق. وعليه أن يتأكد من سلامة الختم قبل فضه، ويحرَّر محضرٌ بذلك،
- Article 55
The article sets what the investigator does on reaching the crime scene: inspecting, recording and hearing initial information, with the option of sealing places, and requires seizing and securing whatever relates to the crime.
1- يبدأ المحقق فور وصوله إلى مكان وقوع الجريمة بإجراء المعاينة اللازمة، وإلقاء نظرة فاحصة وشاملة على مكان وقوع الجريمة، ويثبت حالة الأشخاص، والأشياء، والآثار ال
- Article 60
The article requires the investigator to issue an order attaching items seized during the investigation if they are subject to confiscation.
إذا كانت الاشياء التي ضبطت أثناء التحقيق محلاً للمصادرة؛ فيصدر المحقق أمراً بحجزها.
- Article 61
This article of the Regulations requires the investigator to take what is necessary to destroy seized items whose possession is prohibited by sharia or law, or to demand confiscation of those subject to confiscation.
إذا كانت المضبوطات مما تُمنع حيازته شرعاً أو نظاماً، أو كانت محلاً للمصادرة؛ فعلى المحقق إجراء ما يلزم حيال إتلافها أو المطالبة بمصادرتها، وذلك بحسب الأحوال.
- Article 62
This article of the Regulations specifies who is competent to return seized items: the investigator before the case is filed with the court, and the head of the judicial circuit after it is filed.
يختص المحقق برد المضبوطات قبل رفع القضية إلى المحكمة، وبعد رفعها يكون ذلك من اختصاص رئيس الدائرة القضائية.
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.