Article 31 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
المادة 31 من اللائحة التنفيذية لنظام الإجراءات الجزائية · الفصل الثالث: تفتيش الأشخاص والمساكن
The article requires the search to stop as soon as the items related to the crime for which the search was permitted are found.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يجب وقف التفتيش فور العثور على الأشياء الخاصة بالجريمة الجاري جمع المعلومات عنها أو التحقيق في شأنها التي من أجلها أجيز التفتيش.
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 31 explained in plain English
This article of the Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law sets a clear limit to the scope of a search: a search is not an open permission to look for everything, but a procedure tied to a specific purpose, which is finding the items connected with the crime about which information is being gathered or which is being investigated, and for which the search was permitted in the first place.
What does the article provide?
- The person carrying out the search must stop it as soon as the required items are found.
- What counts is the items related to the crime on account of which the permit or order for the search was issued, not any other unspecified crime.
- The rule is general and covers searching at the information-gathering stage and at the investigation stage.
Why does this matter? Because a search affects the sanctity of the person and his home, restricting it to the purpose for which it was permitted protects the person from extended searching without need. This article falls among the Regulations' provisions on searching; Article 30 of the Regulations explains what searching the accused covers (his body, what is connected with it, what he carries and his means of transport), and Article 32 regulates the presence of the district mayor when the homeowner or his representative cannot attend.
The article does not address the status of what may be found incidentally during the search; it is limited to the duty to stop after finding what was sought.
If you are a party to a case and want to know the effect of this provision on your position, you may consult a lawyer specializing in criminal cases.
Practical example
An order was issued to search Ahmed's home in Riyadh for specific stolen devices. The people carrying out the search found the devices in the reception room, so under this article they must stop the search at that point and not continue looking in the other rooms, because the purpose for which the search was permitted has been achieved.
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 31 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
May the competent body continue searching after finding what was sought?
No. The article requires stopping the search as soon as the items related to the crime for which the search was permitted are found.
Does this rule apply only to the information-gathering stage?
No. The article covers searching related to a crime about which information is being gathered or which is being investigated.
What defines the scope of a search?
The purpose for which the search was permitted, which is finding the items related to the crime concerned.
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 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 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.