Article 139 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
المادة 139 من اللائحة التنفيذية لنظام الإجراءات الجزائية · الفصل الأول: الاستئناف
This article of the Regulations requires recording that the parties were informed of their right to object, its period and the effect of missing it, and gives the public prosecutor and the private-right claimant the right to object to an unfixed discretionary penalty.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- يدون في ضبط الدعوى إعلام أطراف الدعوى بحقهم في الاعتراض على الحكم، والمدة المحددة لتقديمه، وأن الحكم سيكتسب لصفة القطعية بمضي تلك المدة دون تقديم مذكرة الاعتراض، ما لم يكن الحكم واجب التدقيق.
2 - دون إخلال بما نصت عليه المادة (السابعة والسبعون بعد المائة) من نظام المرافعات الشرعية، للمدعي العام أو المدعي بالحق الخاص حق الاعتراض إذا كانت مطالبته بإيقاع عقوبة تعزيرية غير مقدرة على المتهم.
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 139 explained in plain English
This article of the Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law falls within the chapter on appeal, and contains two provisions:
- Informing the parties of the right to object: it is recorded in the case record that the parties were informed of three matters: their right to object to the judgment, the period set for submitting it, and that the judgment will acquire finality when that period passes without the objection memorandum being submitted. The last matter does not apply to a judgment subject to mandatory review.
- Objection by the public prosecutor and the private-right claimant: without prejudice to Article 177 of the Law of Sharia Procedure, the public prosecutor or the private-right claimant has the right to object if he demanded that an unfixed discretionary penalty be imposed on the accused.
In practice, the first paragraph ensures that a party is not surprised by a judgment having become final without knowing his right and its period, since his being informed is recorded in the case record. This article does not state the length of the objection period. The second paragraph provides that the person requesting an unfixed discretionary penalty, whether the public prosecutor or the private-right claimant, may object to the judgment, subject to Article 177 of the Law of Sharia Procedure, whose content this article does not state.
It is followed by Article 140, which provides that withdrawing an objection does not reduce its period or lose the right to it unless the period passes. If a judgment has been issued against you or in your favor and you want to object, it is best to consult a lawyer who specializes in criminal cases before the period passes.
Practical example
A criminal judgment was issued against an accused in Dammam, and the court recorded in the case record that it had informed the parties of their right to object, the period set for submitting it, and that the judgment would acquire finality when it passed without an objection memorandum being submitted. The private-right claimant had demanded an unfixed discretionary penalty on the accused, so he has the right to object to the judgment.
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 139 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
When does a criminal judgment become final?
It acquires finality when the period set for objection passes without the objection memorandum being submitted, unless the judgment is subject to mandatory review.
Can the private-right claimant object to the penalty?
He has the right to object if he demanded that an unfixed discretionary penalty be imposed on the accused, without prejudice to Article 177 of the Law of Sharia Procedure.
Is the court required to tell me about my right to object?
It is recorded in the case record that the parties were informed of their right to object and the period set for submitting it.
More articles on Objecting to Criminal Judgments
- Article 138
This article of the Regulations provides that a judgment of not hearing the case for a fundamental defect that cannot be corrected is recorded and an objectionable instrument issued, and the corrected case is heard by the same circuit.
1- يدون في ضبط الدعوى الحكمُ الصادر - وفقا للمادة (الحادية والتسعين بعد المائة) من النظام- بعدم سماع الدعوى التي وُجِد فيها عيب جوهري لا يمكن تصحيحه، ويصدر به ص
- Article 140
This article of the Regulations provides that an objector's withdrawal of his objection neither reduces the objection period nor loses his right to it unless that period passes.
ليس لعدول المعترض على الحكم عن اعتراضه أثر في نقص المدة المحددة لتقديم الاعتراض ولا يسقط حقه فيه ما لم تنقض تلك المدة.
- Article 141
This article of the Regulations explains the effect of not submitting the objection within its period: for a judgment not subject to mandatory review the right to appeal or review is lost and it becomes final, and for one subject to mandatory review the right to submit the memorandum is lost.
1- إذا كان الحكم غير واجب التدقيق، ولم يقدم المعترض اعتراضه خلال المدة المحددة للاعتراض سقط حقه في طلب الاستئناف، أو التدقيق، واكتسب الحكم صفة القطعية، وعلى الد
- Article 142
This article of the Regulations requires the objection to be submitted by a memorandum under paragraph 1 of Article 195 of the Law, lodged with the court that issued the judgment within the period, and allows more than one memorandum on conditions.
1- لا يقبل الاعتراض على الحكم إلا بمذكرة مشتملة على ما نصت عليه الفقرة (1) من المادة (الخامسة والتسعين بعد المائة) من النظام، وللمدعي العام بعثها بكتاب رسمي، وت
- Article 143
This article of the Regulations requires the circuit that issued the challenged judgment to record in the case record that it has seen the objection memorandum.
تدون الدائرة التي أصدرت الحكم المعترض عليه ما يفيد اطلاعها على المذكرة الاعتراضية في ضبط الدعوى.
- Article 144
This article of the Regulations requires the Court of Appeal to annotate the substance of its judgments and final decisions on first-instance judgments, and to notify the first-instance court to transfer this to the case record and judgment register.
تهمش محكمة الاستئناف بمضمون أحكامها وقراراتها النهائية الصادرة بخصوص أحكام محاكم الدرجة الأولى على تلك الأحكام، وتشعرها بما أصدرته لنقل ذلك في ضبط الدعوى وسجل ا
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.