Article 153 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
المادة 153 من اللائحة التنفيذية لنظام الإجراءات الجزائية · الباب الثامن: الأحكام الواجبة التنفيذ وإجراءات تنفيذها وضوابطه
The article explains when a new prison sentence starts if the stay of an earlier sentence is cancelled, to whom the cancellation request is made, and that part of a discretionary prison sentence may be stayed.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- إذا نُص في الحكم على وقف تنفيذ عقوبة السجن التعزيرية في الحق العام، وارتكب المحكوم عليه جريمة خلال المدة المشار إليها في الفقرة (2) من المادة (الرابعة عشرة بعد المائتين) من النظام وحكم عليه في الحق العام بالإدانة وتوقيع عقوبة السجن عليه، وألغت الدائرة القضائية وقف تنفيذ العقوبة الأولى وأمرت بإنفاذها؛ فيكون تنفيذ عقوبة السجن الأخيرة من تاريخ انتهاء عقوبة السجن الأولى.
2 - يقدم طلب إلغاء وقف تنفيذ العقوبة والأمر بإنفاذها إلى الدائرة مصدرة الحكم الموقوف تنفيذه.
3 - للدائرة القضائية أن تنص في حكمها على وقف تنفيذ جزء من عقوبة السجن التعزيرية في الحق العام بحسب ما تراه محققا للمصلحة.
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 153 explained in plain English
This article of the Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law deals with the discretionary prison sentence in the public right whose execution the judgment provides to stay, and contains three rules:
- Order of executing the two sentences: if the judgment provides for staying execution of the prison sentence, and then the convicted person commits a crime within the period referred to in paragraph (2) of Article 214 of the Law and is sentenced in the public right with conviction and a prison sentence, and the judicial circuit cancels the stay of the first sentence and orders it executed, execution of the later prison sentence starts from the date the first prison sentence ends. That is, the two sentences are executed consecutively, not at the same time.
- Where the request is submitted: the request to cancel the stay of execution of the sentence and order its execution is submitted to the circuit that issued the judgment whose execution was stayed.
- Partial stay: the judicial circuit may provide in its judgment for staying execution of part of the discretionary prison sentence in the public right, as it sees best serves the interest.
This article does not state the length of the period during which committing a crime is a reason to cancel the stay, but refers to paragraph (2) of Article 214 of the Law. The first rule also applies only when all its conditions are met together: committing a crime within that period, conviction and a prison sentence in the public right, and the circuit's cancelling the stay and ordering the first sentence executed.
If you have been sentenced to a sentence with a stayed execution and face a new accusation, it is best to consult a lawyer who specializes in criminal cases.
Practical example
Khalid was sentenced to one year in prison with execution stayed, then committed a crime within the period referred to in the Law and was sentenced to six months in prison, and the circuit cancelled the stay of the one-year sentence and ordered it executed. So Khalid serves the year first, then execution of the six months starts from the date it ends.
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 153 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
When does the second prison sentence start if the stay of the first is cancelled?
Execution of the later prison sentence starts from the date the first prison sentence ends, once the conditions in paragraph (1) of the article are met.
To whom is the request to cancel the stay of the sentence submitted?
To the circuit that issued the judgment whose execution was stayed.
May execution of only part of a prison sentence be stayed?
Yes. The judicial circuit may provide in its judgment for staying execution of part of the discretionary prison sentence in the public right, as it sees best serves the interest.
More articles on Executing Criminal Judgments
- Article 149
This article of the Regulations allows any party to request reconsideration of a final judgment imposing a penalty even after it is executed or the penalty lapses, and requires both judgments to be final for a contradiction to arise.
1- يحق لأيٍّ من الخصوم طلب إعادة النظر في الحكم النهائي الصادر بالعقوبة ولو بعد تنفيذه، أو سقـوط العقوبة بالعفو أو الصلح أو وفاة المحكوم عليه. 2 - يُشترط لتحقق
- Article 150
This article of the Regulations requires an order to stay execution of a judgment issued under Article 206 of the Law to be recorded in the case record and notified immediately to the execution authority by official letter.
إذا صدر أمر إيقاف تنفيذ الحكم - وفقا للمادة (السادسة بعد المائتين) من النظام - فيدون في ضبط الدعوى، ويبلغ فوراً إلى جهة التنفيذ بكتاب رسمي.
- Article 151
If part of a criminal judgment becomes final but another part does not, a certified copy is sent to the execution authority to execute only the final part.
إذا صدر الحكم في دعوى اشتملت على حقٍّ عامٍّ وحقٍّ خاصٍّ واكتسب الحكم الصفة القطعية في أحدهما دون الآخر، أو صدر الحكم في دعوى واكتسب صفة القطعية في بعضه دون بعض،
- Article 152
The article requires the court to notify the detention administration in writing of the substance of its judgment in the cases provided for in Article 213 of the Law, so the detained accused is released at once.
تُبلِّغ المحكمةُ كتابةً إدارةَ التوقيف بمضمون الحكم الذي أصدرته في الحالات المنصوص عليها في المادة (الثالثة عشرة بعد المائتين) من النظام للإفراج عن المتهم الموق
- Article 154
Orders to carry out criminal sentences are issued by the administrative governor, except for sentences whose execution requires an order from the King or his delegate.
فيما عدا الأحكام الجزائية التي يكون تنفيذها بعد صدور أمر من الملك أو ممن ينيبه، يصدر أمر تنفيذ الأحكام الجزائية من الحاكم الإداري.
- Article 155
The administrative governor determines who carries out sentences of death, amputation, stoning, flogging, and retaliation; the executor must be of good character, knowledgeable, not prison staff, and not a relative or enemy.
1- يتولى الحاكم الإداري تحديد من يباشر تنفيذ الأحكام الصادرة بالقتل، أو القطع، أو الرجم، أو الجلد، أو القصاص في النفس أو فيما دونها. 2 - يشترط فيمن يباشر تنفيذ
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.