Article 135 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
المادة 135 من اللائحة التنفيذية لنظام الإجراءات الجزائية · الفصل السابع: الحكم
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 - وفق المادة (السادسة والثمانين بعد المائة) من النظام - مصدقة؛ إذا ختمت بالخاتم الرسمي للمحكمة، وتكون الشهادة من المحكمة بصدد الحكم السابق بموجب كتاب رسمي مختوم منها.
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 135 explained in plain English
This article of the Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law interprets a phrase used in Article 186 of the Law, and sets how the existence of a previous judgment in the case is proved:
- Meaning of the criminal case: the criminal case in Article 186 of the Law is the public criminal case, that is, the one in which the public right is claimed, not the private-right claim.
- Proving the previous judgment: the copy of the judgment by which the previous judgment in the case is proved is certified if it is stamped with the court's official seal.
- The court's certificate: the court's certificate of the previous judgment is by an official letter stamped by it.
The practical benefit is that whoever wants to argue that the case has already been decided knows the form of evidence required: a copy stamped with the court's official seal, or a certificate by an official letter stamped by it. This article does not address the effect of proving the previous judgment, which is governed by Article 186 of the Law.
Note that this article does not require more than stamping with the court's official seal to prove the previous judgment, or an official letter stamped by it in the case of a certificate. The article follows Article 134 on removing real estate, and precedes Article 136 on the lack of the majority needed to issue a judgment. If you believe your case has already been decided, it is best to consult a lawyer who specializes in criminal cases.
Practical example
A public case was brought against Hamad in Riyadh, and he argued that the same incident had already been decided before another court. He submitted a copy of the previous judgment stamped with that court's official seal, which counts as certified under this article, and he could alternatively have submitted a certificate from the court by an official letter stamped by it.
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 135 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
How do I prove that my case was decided previously?
With a copy of the previous judgment stamped with the court's official seal, or with a certificate from the court by an official letter stamped by it.
What is meant by the criminal case in Article 186 of the Law?
It is the public criminal case.
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 128
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.
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.
- 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 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.