Article 29 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
المادة 29 من اللائحة التنفيذية لنظام الإجراءات الجزائية · الفصل الثالث: تفتيش الأشخاص والمساكن
The article governs delegating an officer to search, bars carrying out a search after its period or more than once, requires informing the homeowner, and bars searching a non-accused without sufficient evidence.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- لعضو الهيئة المختص بالتحقيق أن يُجري التفتيش بنفسه، وله أن يندب أحد رجال الضبط الجنائي المختصين لإجرائه. ولا يُشترط لإصدار أمر الندب أن يسبقه تحقيق، ولا أن يُعيَّن في أمر الندب اسم رجل الضبط الجنائي المنتدب لإجرائه. وفي هذه الحال يجوز لأي رجل ضبط جنائي مختص أن يقوم بإجرائه. وإذا نُص فيه على تعيين اسم رجل ضبط معين فلا يجوز لغيره القيام به.
2 - لا يجوز تنفيذ الأمر أو الإذن بالتفتيش بعد مضي المدة المحددة فيه.
3 - لا يبيح الأمر أو الإذن الصادر بالتفتيش إجراءه إلا مرة واحدة. وإذا طرأ ما يستدعي إعادة التفتيش وجب استصدار أمرٍ أو إذنٍ جديد، وتكون الأسباب والتحريات السابقة كافية ومنتجة لأثرها.
4 - على منفذ أمر التفتيش قبل دخول المسكن أن يُعلم صاحب المسكن - أو من ينوب عنه- عن شخصيته وقصده، وأن يطلعه على أمر التفتيش، ويجب أن يكون الدخول من الباب ما أمكن ذلك وفق تقدير منفذ الأمر.
5 - لا يجوز أن يفتَش غير المتهم؛ ما لم تقم دلائل كافية على اشتراك هذا الغير في الجريمة التي بخصوصها صدر إذن التفتيش.
6 - إذا جاز - استناداً إلى المادة (الثانية والأربعين) من النظام - دخول المسكن لإجراء معين فلا يجوز القيام بأي إجراء آخر، إلا بموجب أحكام النظام واللائحة.
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 29 explained in plain English
After Article 28 sets who issues the search order and what it contains, this article of the Regulations governs carrying it out:
- Who carries it out: the member of the Authority responsible for the investigation may conduct the search himself or delegate a competent criminal investigation officer. An investigation need not precede the delegation order, nor must the officer's name be specified in it, in which case any competent officer may carry it out. If a particular name is stated in it, no one else may do so.
- The period: the order or permit may not be carried out after the period specified in it has passed.
- Once only: the order or permit allows the search once; if something arises that calls for repeating it, a new order or permit must be obtained, and the earlier reasons and inquiries suffice for it.
- Before entering the home: the person carrying it out must inform the homeowner or his representative of his identity and purpose, show him the search order, and enter through the door where possible in his judgment.
- A non-accused: a person other than the accused may not be searched unless there is sufficient evidence of his participation in the crime for which the permit was issued.
- Limits of entry for a particular procedure: if entry into a home is permitted for a particular procedure under Article 42 of the Law, no other procedure may be carried out except under the provisions of the Law and the Regulations.
These restrictions protect the sanctity of the home: its owner may see the order before entry, and the order is not used twice. Anyone who believes a search was carried out contrary to these controls should consult a lawyer specializing in criminal cases.
Practical example
An order was issued to search an accused's home in Jeddah with a period of five days. The officer came on the third day, told the homeowner who he was and his purpose, showed him the order and entered through the door. After the search, information emerged calling for repeating it, so a new order had to be obtained, and a guest who was in the house may not be searched unless there is sufficient evidence of his participation.
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 29 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
May a home be searched a second time under the same order?
No. The order or permit allows the search once, and repeating it requires a new order or permit.
Do I have the right to see the search order before my home is entered?
Yes. Before entering the home, the person carrying it out must inform its owner or his representative of his identity and purpose and show him the search order.
May a person other than the accused be searched?
No, unless there is sufficient evidence of his participation in the crime for which the search permit was issued.
Is a search order carried out after its period ends?
It may not be carried out after the period specified in it has passed.
More articles on Searching Persons and Homes
- Article 28
The article sets who issues the order to search homes and the permit to search other places, what they must contain, a period of no more than seven days, and requires that a crime has actually occurred for a search to be valid.
1- يصدر أمر تفتيش المساكن من رئيس فرع الهيئة في المنطقة أو من يفوضه. 2 - يصدر إذن تفتيش غير المساكن من محقق مختص مكاناً ونوعاً. 3 - يصدر الأمر والإذن بالتفتيش ك
- Article 30
The article explains the scope of searching the accused under Article 43 of the Law, allows lawful means if he refuses, and sets controls for searching a female accused.
1- يشمل تفتيش المتهم - وفقاً للمادة (الثالثة والأربعين) من النظام - البحث عما يكون في جسده، وما يتصل به من أشياء تستمد حرمتها من هذا الاتصال، وكذا ما يحمله من أ
- Article 31
The article requires the search to stop as soon as the items related to the crime for which the search was permitted are found.
يجب وقف التفتيش فور العثور على الأشياء الخاصة بالجريمة الجاري جمع المعلومات عنها أو التحقيق في شأنها التي من أجلها أجيز التفتيش.
- Article 32
The article requires the district mayor or equivalent to attend a home search at the searcher's request if the owner, his representative or a family member cannot attend.
1- إن تعذر حضور صاحب المسكن أو من ينيبه أو أحد أفراد أسرته الكامل الأهلية المقيم معه تفتيش المسكن؛ فعلى عمدة الحي ومن في حكمه حضور التفتيش عند طلب المفتِّش ذلك.
- Article 33
The article requires a search record to be drawn up even if nothing is seized, and sets its language, the conditions for its soundness, and its additional contents.
1 - يُعد محضر التفتيش - المشار إليه في المادة (الثامنة والأربعين) من النظام - ولو لم يسفر التفتيش عن ضبط شيء. 2 - يُكتب محضر التفتيش باللغة العربية، ويُحرَّر بد
- Article 34
The article requires the name, identity details and address of the woman accompanying a search of a home occupied only by the accused woman to be recorded, along with her statement where necessary.
يجب أن يسجل اسم المرأة المرافقة للقائمين بتفتيش المسكن الذي ليس فيه إلا المرأة المتهمة، وكذلك البيانات اللازمة لإثبات شخصيتها وعنوانـها في محضر التفتيش. وتدون إ
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.