Article 133 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
المادة 133 من اللائحة التنفيذية لنظام الإجراءات الجزائية · الفصل السابع: الحكم
This article of the Regulations requires the seizing authority to identify perishable or costly-to-keep seized items, and regulates early execution of a judgment disposing of them, their delivery and taking an undertaking.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- على الجهة التي تتولى الضبط أن تبين في محاضر الأشياء المضبوطة ما يسرع إليه التلف، وما يستلزم حفظه نفقات كبيرة.
2 - إذا كان الحكم بالتصرف في الأشياء المضبوطة مما يجري فيه التنفيذ المعجل وفقاً للمادة (الرابعة والثمانين بعد المائة) من النظام، فعلى المحكمة النص عليه في الحكم.
3 - إذا كانت الأشياء المضبوطة محلاً للنزاع ورأت المحكمة تنفيذ الحكم الصادر في شأن التصرف فيها قبل اكتساب الحكم الصادر في الدعوى لصفة القطعية؛ فعلى الجهة التي تتولى تسليمها إعداد محضر يتضمن وصف الأشياء المضبوطة، وتقدير قيمتها.
4 - إذا كانت الأشياء المضبوطة لدى المحكمة فتُجري التنفيذ المعجل بتسليمها، وإذا كانت لدى جهة أخرى فتزودها المحكمة بكتاب رسمي بذلك، وعلى هذه الجهة مباشرة تنفيذه، مع أخذ التعهد المشار إليه في المادة (الرابعة والثمانين بعد المائة) من النظام. ويَرجع إلى المحكمة تقدير أخذ الكفالة من عدمه.
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 133 explained in plain English
This article of the Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law deals with the fate of seized items that cannot be kept waiting until the end of the case, and with executing the judgment disposing of them:
- The seizing authority's duty: the authority carrying out the seizure must state in the reports of seized items what spoils quickly and what requires large expenses to keep.
- Providing for early execution: if the judgment disposing of seized items is one in which early execution applies under Article 184 of the Law, the court must provide for that in the judgment.
- Items in dispute: if they are the subject of a dispute and the court sees fit to execute the judgment disposing of them before the judgment in the case becomes final, the authority responsible for delivering them must prepare a report containing their description and an estimate of their value.
- Method of delivery: if the seized items are with the court, it carries out the early execution by delivering them; if they are with another authority, the court provides it with an official letter, and that authority carries out the execution, taking the undertaking referred to in Article 184 of the Law. Whether to take a guarantee or not is for the court to assess.
The practical benefit is that the report of description and estimate protects the parties' rights if seized items are delivered before the judgment becomes final, and that a guarantee is not always required but is assessed by the court. The article does not state the content of the undertaking, which is according to Article 184 of the Law.
The article follows Article 132 on hearing the parties' requests about seized items, and precedes Article 134 on removing real estate and placing it at the court's disposal. If you are claiming seized items in a pending case, you can consult a lawyer who specializes in criminal cases.
Practical example
A shipment of vegetables and fruit was seized from a merchant in Qassim in a criminal case, and the seizing authority stated in its report that it was perishable. The court ruled to dispose of it and provided for early execution, so the delivering authority prepared a report describing the shipment and estimating its value, took the required undertaking, and the court assessed that no guarantee was needed.
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 133 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
What happens to seized items that spoil quickly?
The seizing authority must identify them in the reports of seized items, and if the judgment disposing of them is one in which early execution applies under Article 184 of the Law, the court provides for that in the judgment.
Can seized items be delivered before the judgment becomes final?
Yes, if the court sees fit where the items are the subject of a dispute, and then the delivering authority prepares a report describing them and estimating their value.
Must a guarantee be paid to receive seized items?
Whether to take a guarantee is for the court to assess, with the undertaking referred to in Article 184 of the Law being taken.
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.