Article 2 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
المادة 2 من اللائحة التنفيذية لنظام الإجراءات الجزائية · الفصل الأول: رفع الدعوى الجزائية
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- تبعث الهيئة كتاباً إلى المحكمة بأسماء المدعين العامين المفوضين بإقامة الدعوى الجزائية العامة أمامها.
2 - مباشرة الدعوى الجزائية العامة أمام المحاكم المختصة تشمل واجبات ومسؤوليات المدعي العام كتقديم البينات وإحضارها وتحمل عبء الإثبات.
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 2 explained in plain English
This article of the Regulations governs two matters concerning the public criminal case, which is the case the prosecution brings in the name of society against the accused.
- Notifying the court of the public prosecutors' names: the Authority (the Bureau of Investigation and Public Prosecution under Article 1) sends a letter to the court stating the names of the public prosecutors authorized to bring the public criminal case before it. The court thereby knows who has standing to plead for the public right before it.
- What conducting the case includes: conducting the public case before the competent courts is not merely submitting the charge sheet, but includes duties and responsibilities of the public prosecutor, among them presenting evidence, producing it, and bearing the burden of proof.
The practical meaning of the second paragraph is that the public prosecutor is the one required to prove the charge he brings, as he is the one who presents the evidence and produces it to the court. The article states these duties by way of example, with the words "such as presenting evidence", so it does not limit the public prosecutor's responsibilities to them.
It is followed by Article 3, which deals with the private criminal case that includes a private right and a public right. Anyone who is a party to a criminal case and wants to understand his position on the evidence presented against him may consult a lawyer specializing in criminal cases.
Practical example
A person in Riyadh was accused of theft, and the investigating body referred the case to the court. The authorized public prosecutor attends before that court, presents the evidence and produces the witnesses, because the burden of proving the charge falls on him.
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 2 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
Who bears the burden of proof in the public criminal case?
The article provides that conducting the public case includes the public prosecutor bearing the burden of proof, in addition to presenting evidence and producing it.
How does the court know who the authorized public prosecutors before it are?
The Authority sends a letter to the court with the names of the public prosecutors authorized to bring the public criminal case before it.
More articles on Criminal Case and Its Lapse
- 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
- Article 9
The article provides that the private criminal case is considered brought from the date the statement of claim submitted by the claimant is registered at the court.
تعد القضية مرفوعة في الدعوى الجزائية الخاصة من تاريخ قيد صحيفة الدعوى المقدمة من المدعي في المحكمة.
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.