Article 125 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
المادة 125 من اللائحة التنفيذية لنظام الإجراءات الجزائية · الفصل السادس: دعوى التزوير الفرعية
This article of the Regulations allows a challenge for forgery against any evidence in the case, made orally during the hearing or in writing, and recorded in the case record.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يُقدَّم الطعن بالتزوير في أي دليل من أدلة القضية مشافهة أثناء الجلسة، أو كتابة، ويدون في ضبـط الدعوى.
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 125 explained in plain English
This article of the Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law falls within Chapter 6 on the incidental forgery claim, that is, a challenge that evidence submitted in the criminal case is forged.
- Scope of the challenge: a challenge for forgery may be made against any evidence in the case, without specifying a particular type.
- How it is made: either orally during the hearing, or in writing.
- Recording: in both cases the challenge is recorded in the case record, so it becomes fixed in the case file.
The practical benefit is that a party does not need complicated procedures to raise a suspicion of forgery; it is enough to state it orally at the hearing or submit it in writing, and it must be recorded. The article does not name who may challenge, and does not set a time limit for making the challenge.
What happens after the challenge is dealt with in Article 126: the court may stay the case and record the reason, or refer the challenged papers, sealed, to the authority competent to investigate forgery, or state in the record the reason for not proceeding with verification if it sees fit, and the incidental forgery claim is heard by the court hearing the case unless it lacks jurisdiction over forgery cases, in which case it refers it. If you doubt the authenticity of evidence submitted against you, it is best to consult a lawyer who specializes in criminal cases.
Practical example
In a criminal case in Riyadh, a bond was submitted bearing a signature attributed to Abdullah, and Abdullah denied the signature and said at the hearing that the bond was forged. Under this article, his challenge was accepted orally and recorded in the case record, and the court then considers the next step under Article 126.
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 125 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
Can a challenge for forgery be made orally before the criminal court?
Yes. A challenge for forgery may be made orally during the hearing or in writing, and it is recorded in the case record.
What evidence may be challenged for forgery?
Any evidence in the case.
What happens after a challenge for forgery?
Article 126 deals with that; among other things the court may stay the case with a statement of reasons, or refer the challenged papers, sealed, to the authority competent to investigate forgery.
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.