Article 166 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
المادة 166 من اللائحة التنفيذية لنظام الإجراءات الجزائية · الباب الثامن: الأحكام الواجبة التنفيذ وإجراءات تنفيذها وضوابطه
If a prisoner's term ends before a discretionary flogging is completed, he is released and then flogged as the judgment provides; a request to speed up the flogging requires the issuing court's opinion.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
إذا أمضى السجين عقوبة السجن المحكوم بها قبل استيفاء عقوبة الجلد التعزيرية؛ فيُفرج عنه، ثم يُنفذ فيه الجلد بحسب ما ورد في الحكم، وإذا طُلب تعجيل تنفيذ الجلد قبل موعده المحدد في الحكم فيُؤخذ رأي المحكمة التي أصدرته.
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 166 explained in plain English
This article of the Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law deals with a case where the judgment combines imprisonment and discretionary (ta'zir) flogging, and sets two provisions:
1. The prison term ends before the flogging is completed
If the prisoner has served the prison sentence imposed before the discretionary flogging has been fully carried out, he:
- is released, so he does not stay in prison because of the remaining flogging.
- then the flogging is carried out as provided in the judgment.
In practical terms, a part of the flogging that has not been carried out is not a reason to extend the prison term after it ends.
2. A request to speed up the flogging
If a request is made to speed up the flogging before the date set in the judgment, the opinion of the court that issued the judgment is taken. The article does not specify who may make this request, and it does not oblige the court to accept it; it only provides that the matter is presented to the court for its opinion.
The article is limited to discretionary flogging as stated in its text. It is linked to Article 165 of the Regulations, which details how flogging is carried out, including that the person awarded the flogging of his opponent for a private right is notified of the date and place of execution, that the name of the person flogged is not announced unless the judgment so provides, and that a person who is fasting is flogged at night. Article 167 also governs carrying out the penalty of exile (taghrib).
Anyone who has a relative in this situation and wants to know what applies is advised to consult a lawyer who specializes in criminal cases.
Practical example
Saad was sentenced to six months in prison and to discretionary flogging in installments, and his prison term ended before all the installments were carried out. Saad is released when his prison term ends, and the flogging is then completed as provided in the judgment. If he requests that the remaining installments be sped up, the opinion of the court that issued the judgment is taken.
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 166 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
Does a prisoner stay in prison if his term has ended but flogging remains?
No. If he has served the prison sentence before the discretionary flogging is completed, he is released, and the flogging is then carried out as provided in the judgment.
Can the flogging be sped up?
If a request is made to speed up the flogging before the date set in the judgment, the opinion of the court that issued the judgment is taken.
Does the article apply to flogging in hadd penalties?
The text of the article speaks of the discretionary (ta'zir) flogging penalty.
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 153
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.
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 ب
- 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.
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.