Article 128 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
المادة 128 من اللائحة التنفيذية لنظام الإجراءات الجزائية · الفصل السابع: الحكم
This article of the Regulations requires a judge who is barred from ruling because the judgment would run contrary to his knowledge to record that in the case record and inform his direct superior.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
إذا امتنع على القاضي الحكم في قضية لتوجه الحكم فيها بما يخالف علمه؛ فعليه أن يدون ذلك في ضبط الدعوى ويخبر مرجعه المباشر بذلك لاتخاذ ما يلزم نظاماً.
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 128 explained in plain English
This article of the Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law deals with a special situation: a judge finds that the judgment in the case would run contrary to his knowledge, that is, what the case papers lead to is contrary to what he himself knows, so he is barred from issuing the judgment.
In this case the judge has two things to do:
- Record that in the case record, so his refusal is fixed in the case file.
- Inform his direct superior of it, to take what is required under the regulations.
This means the judge does not leave the case without any step, and does not rule contrary to his knowledge, but records the matter and refers it to his superior. The article does not specify the step the superior takes, and is content with the phrase "to take what is required under the regulations", so it cannot be concluded from it, for example, that the case is referred to a particular judge or that there is a set period.
This article falls within Chapter 7 of the Regulations on judgment, and is followed by Article 129 on deferring decision on the requests of the private-right claimant or the accused, and Article 130 on the draft judgment and its reading. If a party has a concern about a judge's eligibility to hear his case, it is best to consult a lawyer who specializes in criminal cases.
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 128 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
What does the judge do if the judgment would be contrary to his knowledge?
He records that in the case record and informs his direct superior to take what is required under the regulations.
Does the article state what happens to the case afterwards?
No. It only provides that the direct superior takes what is required under the regulations, without detail.
More articles on Criminal Judgments and Nullity of Procedures
- Article 127
This article of the Regulations requires that the report prepared on the court's judgment that an official paper, in whole or in part, is forged, under Article 178 of the Law, be included in the case record.
يضمن المحضر المعد في شأن حكم المحكمة بثبوت تزوير ورقة رسمية (كلها أو بعضها) - وفق ما نصت عليه المادة (الثامنة والسبعون بعد المائة) من النظام - في ضبط الدعوى.
- Article 129
This article of the Regulations regulates the court's deferring decision on the requests of the private-right claimant or the accused under Article 180 of the Law, how they are later heard, and their statement in the judgment.
1- إذا قررت المحكمة إرجاء الفصل في طلبات المدعي بالحق الخاص أو المتهم - استناداً إلى المادة (الثمانين بعد المائة) من النظام - فيضمَّن ذلك مع أسبابه في الحكم الص
- Article 130
This article of the Regulations sets the contents of the draft criminal judgment, the rules on a judge's absence and the accused's attendance at the reading of the judgment, determining the criminal description, and drafting the instrument.
1- يجب أن تحرر مسودة الحكم قبل النطق به، وأن تشتمل على رقم الدعوى، وتاريخها، ونص الحكم، وأسبابه، وأسماء القضاة الذين اشتركوا في إصداره، وتوقيعاتهم مؤرخاً. 2 - إ
- Article 131
This article of the Regulations defines the certified copy of the judgment, and sets how a final judgment is officially notified and the Bureau informed, while preserving the parties' right to know it is final.
1- الصورة المصدقة - المشار إليها في المادة (الثانية والثمانين بعد المائة) من النظام - هي صورة الحكم المختوم عليها بخاتم التصديق المتضمن أن الصورة طبق الأصل، أو
- Article 135
This article of the Regulations clarifies that the criminal case in Article 186 of the Law is the public case, and sets when a copy of a previous judgment is certified and the form of the court's certificate of it.
1- الدعوى الجزائية الواردة في المادة (السادسة والثمانين بعد المائة) من النظام هي الدعوى الجزائية العامة. 2 - تعد صورة الحكم التي يثبت بها الحكم السابق في الدعوى
- Article 136
This article of the Regulations refers, where the majority needed for judgment is not available, to Article 162 of the Law of Sharia Procedure, and regulates a judge assigned to complete the circuit's quorum taking part.
1- إذا لم تتوافر الأغلبية اللازمة لإصدار الحكم - بحسب ما نصت عليه المادة (الثامنة) من النظام - فيراعى ما نصت عليه المادة (الثانية والستين بعد المائة) من نظام ال
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.