Article 17 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
المادة 17 من اللائحة التنفيذية لنظام الإجراءات الجزائية · الفصل الأول: جمع المعلومات وضبطها والتلبس بالجريمة
The article explains the effect of the private-right claimant waiving his right on bringing the public case, and regulates ratifying and recording the waiver of qisas and the slander hadd penalty.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1 - إذا نزل المدعي بالحق الخاص عن حقه فلا يجوز رفع الدعوى الجزائية العامة، إلا بمقتضى ما نصت عليه المادة (السابعة عشرة) من النظام والمادة (الرابعة) من اللائحة.
2 - يكون تصديق الإقرار بالنزول عن الحـق في القصاص وحد القذف من دائرة قضائية مختصة نوعاً.
3 - تدون الدائرة المختصة إقرار النزول عن الحق في القصاص في الضبط، وتصدر به صكاً. وأما قضايا القذف فللدائرة الاكتفاء بتدوين الإقرار بالنزول عن الحق في الضبط، ويشرح في الحالتين بموجب التصديق على محضر التحقيق إن وجد.
4 - يجوز ضبط إقرار النزول عن الحق في القصاص وحد القذف وتصديقه في أي دائرة مختصة نوعا، ولو لم تنظر الدعوى الأصلية. وعلى الدائرة التي أثبتت النزول بعث أصل الصك إلى الدائرة التي تنظر الدعوى.
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 17 explained in plain English
This article of the Regulations deals with the claimant of the private right waiving his right, and sets four rules:
- Effect of the waiver on the public case: if the claimant of the private right waives his right, the public criminal case may not be brought except as provided in Article 17 of the Law and Article 4 of the Regulations. Article 4 explains that crimes requiring a private right of individuals are those whose harm is confined to the victim, that the complaint of one of the victims is enough to bring the public case, and that it may be brought against the rest of the accused if the complaint was submitted against one of them.
- Body that ratifies: ratification of the declaration of waiving the right to qisas and the hadd penalty for slander is by a judicial circuit competent by type of case.
- Method of recording: in qisas the circuit records the declaration in the record and issues a deed for it. In slander the circuit may be content with recording the declaration in the record. In both cases a note is made on the investigation record under the ratification, if there is a record.
- Any circuit competent by type of case: the declaration may be recorded and ratified in any circuit competent by type of case even if it is not the one hearing the original case, and the circuit that recorded the waiver must send the original deed to the circuit hearing the case.
Article 11 of the Regulations refers to this article when the pardon of the victim or his heir is ratified. Because a waiver is a decision with great effects, anyone considering it is advised to consult a lawyer specializing in criminal cases.
Practical example
The brother of a victim in a qisas case in Riyadh wanted to waive, but the case is being heard in another court. He may submit his declaration before any circuit competent by type of case, which records it in the record and issues a deed for it, then sends the original deed to the circuit hearing the case.
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 17 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
Can the public case be brought after the private-right holder waives?
Not except as provided in Article 17 of the Law and Article 4 of the Regulations.
Who ratifies a waiver of qisas or the slander penalty?
A judicial circuit competent by type of case.
Is a deed issued for a waiver of slander?
In slander cases the circuit may be content with recording the declaration in the record, whereas for qisas a deed is issued for it.
Must the waiver be made in the court hearing the case?
No. It may be made in any circuit competent by type of case, which sends the original deed to the circuit hearing the case.
Articles this article refers to
More articles on Criminal Case and Its Lapse
- Article 2
The article requires the Authority to notify the court in writing of the names of the authorized public prosecutors, and explains that conducting the public case includes presenting evidence, producing it, and bearing the burden of proof.
1- تبعث الهيئة كتاباً إلى المحكمة بأسماء المدعين العامين المفوضين بإقامة الدعوى الجزائية العامة أمامها. 2 - مباشرة الدعوى الجزائية العامة أمام المحاكم المختصة ت
- Article 3
The article explains that the case meant in Article 16 of the Law is the private criminal case, and governs how the defendant and the public prosecutor are notified in it.
1- الدعوى الجزائية المشار إليها في المادة (السادسة عشرة) من النظام هي الدعوى الجزائية الخاصة التي تشتمل على حق خاص وحق عام. 2 - لا يبلغ المدعى عليه في الدعوى ال
- Article 4
The article defines crimes requiring a private right of individuals as those whose harm is confined to the victim, and explains the effect of a complaint where there are several victims or accused.
1- الجرائم الواجب فيها حق خاص للأفراد المشار إليها في المادة (السابعة عشرة) من النظام هي ما اقتصر الضرر فيها على المجني عليه. 2 - إذا كان هناك أكثر من مجني عليه
- Article 5
The article explains that the victim and heir meant in Article 18 of the Law are those with limited or no legal capacity, and requires recording what the court does when their interest conflicts with their representative's.
1- يُقصـد بالمجني عليه ووارثه المشار إليهما في المـادة (الثامنة عشرة) من النظام؛ من كان ناقص الأهليـة أو فاقدهـا. 2 - يُدون في ضبط الدعوى ما تجريه المحكمة التي
- Article 6
The article explains that the case mentioned in Article 19 of the Law is the public case, and sets how the court notifies whoever brought it and his duty to inform the court of what he did.
1- الدعوى المشار إليها في المادة (التاسعة عشرة) من النظام هي الدعوى الجزائية العامة. 2 - يكون إبلاغ المحكمة لمن رفع الدعوى - في الحالتين المنصوص عليهما في الماد
- Article 8
The article explains the in-law relationship and the enmity that bar a member of the Authority from handling a case, and lets any opponent request disqualification of the investigator before or during the investigation.
1- لا يشترط لقيام صلة المصاهرة المنصوص عليها في الفقرة (1) من المادة (الحادية والعشرين) من النظام؛ أن تكون رابطة الزوجية قائمة. 2 - العداوة التي تمنع عضو الهيئة
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.