Article 30 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
المادة 30 من اللائحة التنفيذية لنظام الإجراءات الجزائية · الفصل الثالث: تفتيش الأشخاص والمساكن
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 أشياء منقولة، ووسيلة نقله، ويدخل في ذلك كلُّ ما يحوزه المتهم، أو يحرزه، أو يهيمن عليه، ويكون التفتيش يدوياً، أو آلياً، أو بهما معاً.
2 - إذا لم يخضـع المتهم لإجراء التفتيش طوعاً جاز لمنفذه أن يتخذ الوسائل اللازمة المشروعة لتفتيشه.
3 - يسجل في محضر التفتيش اسم المرأة المندوبة لتفتيش المرأة المتهمة والبيانات اللازمة لإثبات شخصية المندوبة وعنوانها، وتوقع عليه.
4 - يجب أن يتم تفتيش المتهمة بعيداً عن أنظار الرجال، وإذا أخرجت الأشياء المراد ضبطها من ملابسها طوعاً فلا حاجة للتفتيش، ما لم يكن هناك سبب يسوِّغ ذلك.
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 30 explained in plain English
This article of the Regulations details how searching the accused in Article 43 of the Criminal Procedure Law is done:
- Scope of the search: it covers looking for what is on the accused's body, things connected to it that derive their protection from this connection, the movable things he carries, and his means of transport. This includes everything he possesses, holds or controls. The search may be manual, mechanical, or both.
- Refusing the search: if the accused does not submit to the search voluntarily, the person carrying it out may take the necessary lawful means to search him.
- Searching a female accused: the search record notes the name of the woman delegated to search her, the data proving her identity and her address, and the delegate signs it.
- Away from men: the search of the female accused must be done away from the sight of men. If she voluntarily takes the items sought out of her clothing, there is no need to search, unless there is a reason that justifies it.
The practical meaning is that searching the accused is not limited to his pockets, but may extend to his bag, his car and everything under his control, and a device may be used in it. In return, the article sets safeguards for a female accused: she is searched by a woman whose details are documented in the record, away from the sight of men.
It is preceded by Article 29, which governs carrying out search orders and bars searching a non-accused without sufficient evidence. Anyone who believes his search or that of a female relative was carried out contrary to these controls may consult a lawyer specializing in criminal cases.
Practical example
An officer stopped a woman accused of possessing prohibited materials in Riyadh. A woman was called to search her away from the sight of men, and her name, details and address were recorded in the record, which she signed. Had the accused voluntarily taken the prohibited items out of her clothing, there would have been no need to search her, unless a reason justified it.
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 30 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
Does searching the accused include his car?
Yes. Searching the accused covers his means of transport, what he carries, and everything he possesses, holds or controls.
What happens if the accused refuses the search?
The person carrying out the search may take the necessary lawful means to search him.
Who searches a female accused?
A delegated woman whose name, identity details and address are recorded in the record and who signs it, and the search is away from the sight of men.
Can the search be done with a device?
The search may be manual, mechanical, or both.
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 29
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.
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 ي
- 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.