Article 123 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
المادة 123 من اللائحة التنفيذية لنظام الإجراءات الجزائية · الفصل الخامس: إجراءات الجلسة ونظامها
This article of the Regulations allows the parties to submit what they want added to the case file, dated and signed, and requires the public prosecutor to notify the circuit in writing as soon as firm exculpatory evidence appears.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- يقدم الخصوم إلى الدائرة القضائية المختصة أو إلى إدارة المحكمة ما يريدون ضمه إلى ملف الدعوى؛ مؤرخاً وموقعاً.
2 - إذا ظهرت للمدعي العام أثناء نظر الدعوى أدلة نفي مؤكدة، فعليه فور علمه بها أن يحيط الدائرة كتابةً بذلك.
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 123 explained in plain English
This article of the Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law contains two important provisions while a case is being heard before the court:
- What the parties submit: the parties may submit what they want added to the case file, either to the competent judicial circuit or to the court administration, provided that it is dated and signed.
- The public prosecutor's duty regarding exculpatory evidence: if firm exculpatory evidence appears to the public prosecutor while the case is being heard, that is, evidence that clears the accused of the charge, he must, as soon as he learns of it, notify the circuit of this in writing.
The first paragraph protects the parties' right to get what they have to the court in an orderly way, as the date and signature establish the source of the paper and when it was submitted. The second paragraph means the public prosecutor's role is not limited to presenting evidence of guilt: he must tell the court of firm exculpatory evidence that appears to him, and not delay that. The article does not set a particular form for this notification other than that it be in writing.
This article follows Article 122 on the court requesting an expert's opinion or a competent authority's statement, and precedes Article 124, which provides that the absence of the private-right claimant does not prevent the court from continuing to hear the case. If you are an accused or a party in a case and have documents you want to submit, it is best to consult a lawyer who specializes in criminal cases.
Practical example
Fahd was accused of theft from a shop in Dammam, and while the case was being heard, recordings reached the public prosecutor showing that Fahd was outside the city at the time of the incident. Under this article, the public prosecutor must, as soon as he learns of them, notify the circuit of this in writing. At the same time, Fahd's lawyer submitted a dated and signed memorandum to the court administration to be added to the file.
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 123 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
Can I submit documents to the criminal court to be added to the case file?
Yes. The parties may submit what they want added to the case file to the competent circuit or the court administration, dated and signed.
Must the public prosecutor tell the court about evidence of the accused's innocence?
If firm exculpatory evidence appears to him while the case is being heard, he must, as soon as he learns of it, notify the circuit in writing.
Is an unsigned paper accepted?
The article requires what the parties submit to be added to the case file to be dated and signed.
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.