Article 24 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
المادة 24 من اللائحة التنفيذية لنظام الإجراءات الجزائية · الفصل الثاني: القبض على المتهم
The article sets the grounds for detention during investigation, requires the detention department to notify the issuing body before the period ends and release at once if no extension comes, and governs detaining women and juveniles.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1 - أسباب التوقيف أثناء التحقيق هي:
أ) إذا كانت الجريمة من الجرائم الكبيرة.
ب) إذا استوجبت مصلحة التحقيق توقيف المتهم.
ج) إذا لم يعين المتهم مكاناً يوافق عليه المحقق.
د) إذا خُشي هرب المتهم، أو اختفاؤه.
هـ) إذا لم يتعهد المتهم بالحضور عندما يطلب منه ذلك.
2 - إذا كانت مدة التوقيف خمسة أيام فأكثر، فعلى إدارة التوقيف إشعار الجهة التي أصدرت أمر التوقيف والتنسيق معها قبل انقضاء مدته بفترة لا تقل عن اثنتين وسبعين ساعة. وأما إذا كانت مدة التوقيف أقل من خمسة أيام فعلى إدارة التوقيف إشعار الجهة التي أصدرت أمر التوقيف والتنسيق معها قبل انقضاء مدته بوقت كافٍ. وفي كلتا الحالتين إذا لم يرد من الجهة أمر بالتمديد وانقضت مدته فعليها إخلاء سبيله فوراً، وإشعار الجهة التي أصدرت أمر التوقيف بذلك.
3 - تودع المرأة المقبوض عليها في حال التلبس أو في حال صدور أمر توقيف لها؛ في دار التوقيف المخصصة للنساء.
4 - يراعى في توقيف الأحداث والفتيات الأنظمةُ واللوائح المنظمة لذلك.
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 24 explained in plain English
This article of the Regulations deals with detention during investigation from four angles:
- Grounds for detention: these are:
- The crime is one of the serious crimes (requiring detention under Article 112 of the Law, as defined in Article 1).
- The interest of the investigation requires his detention.
- The accused does not name a place that the investigator approves.
- He is feared to flee or disappear.
- He does not undertake to appear when asked.
- Notifying the issuing body before the period ends: if the period of detention is five days or more, the detention department must notify the body that issued the order and coordinate with it at least 72 hours before the period ends. If it is less than five days, the notice is a sufficient time before it ends. In both cases, if no order extending it arrives and the period ends, the detention department must release him at once and notify the body of that.
- Detaining women: a woman arrested in the act or when a detention order is issued for her is placed in the detention house designated for women.
- Juveniles and girls: their detention is subject to the laws and regulations governing it, which this article does not set out in detail.
The most important thing a detainee and his family take from this article is that the expiry of the period of detention with no extension order requires release at once. Anyone who believes his relative remained detained after his period ended without extension should consult a lawyer specializing in criminal cases.
Practical example
An order was issued detaining an accused in Dammam for ten days. The detention department must notify the body that issued the order at least 72 hours before the period ends. If the ten days end and no order of extension arrives, he must be released at once and the body notified of that.
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 24 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
What are the grounds for detaining an accused during investigation?
That the crime is a serious one, or the interest of the investigation requires it, or he does not name a place the investigator approves, or he is feared to flee or disappear, or he does not undertake to appear.
What happens if the detention period ends and no extension is issued?
The detention department must release the detainee at once and notify the body that issued the detention order.
When does the detention department notify the issuing body before the period ends?
At least 72 hours before it ends if the period is five days or more, and a sufficient time before if it is less.
Where is a woman detained?
In the detention house designated for women.
More articles on Criminal Seizure and Arresting the Accused
- Article 12
The article clarifies that the competent body referred to in Article 25 of the Law is the body to which the criminal investigation officer belongs.
الجهة المختصة المشار إليها في المادة (الخامسة والعشرين) من النظام هي الجهة التي يتبع لها رجل الضبط الجنائي.
- Article 13
The article explains that criminal investigation work under paragraph 2 of Article 26 of the Law is carried out by police directors as well as the individuals and persons assigned to assist them.
يقوم بأعمال الضبط الجنائي - وفقاً لما ورد في الفقرة (2) من المادة (السادسة والعشرين) من النظام - بالإضافة إلى مديري الشرط، الأفراد والأشخاص المكلفون بمعاونتهم.
- Article 14
The article allows the criminal investigation officer to seek the help of other public authority personnel whenever the matter requires it during the performance of his duties.
لرجل الضبط الجنائي - في سبيل قيامه بواجباته - أن يستعين بغيره من رجال السلطة العامة متى اقتضى الأمر ذلك.
- Article 15
The article requires criminal investigation officers to accept reports and complaints in all crimes, oral or written, from a known or unknown source, and regulates referral and the register of reports.
1- يقبل رجال الضبط الجنائي - كل بحسب اختصاصه - البلاغات والشكاوى في جميع الجرائم، سواء كانت مشافهة، أو كتابة، معلومة المصدر أو مجهولته. 2 - إذا قُدم البلاغ أو ا
- Article 16
The article sets the contents of the officer's record on going to the scene of the crime, requires him to show his identity, and regulates acting outside his jurisdiction, informing the Authority and continuing inquiries.
1 - يقوم رجـل الضبط الجنائي - عند الانتقال إلى مكان وقوع الجريمة بحسب المادة (السابعة والعشرين) من النظام - بتحرير محضر يشتمل على ما يأتي: أ) تاريخ اتخاذ الإجرا
- Article 18
The article prevents the criminal investigation officer from obstructing first aid to the injured at the scene of the crime on the pretext of drawing up the record under Article 32 of the Law.
لا يجوز لرجل الضبط الجنائي - من أجل تحرير المحضر وفقاً للمادة (الثانية والثلاثين) من النظام - أن يحول دون إسعاف المصابين في مكان وقوع الجريمة.
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.