Article 32 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
المادة 32 من اللائحة التنفيذية لنظام الإجراءات الجزائية · الفصل الثالث: تفتيش الأشخاص والمساكن
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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.
2 - يكون تقدير التعذر وتحديد مَنْ في حكم عمدة الحي - الواردان في المادة (السابعة والأربعين) من النظام - للمحقق أو لمن صدر إليه أمر 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 32 explained in plain English
This article of the Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law deals with a practical situation: what happens if a home is to be searched and its owner cannot attend?
First: the district mayor's attendance
If none of the following can attend the search:
- The owner of the home.
- Whoever the homeowner appoints.
- A member of his family residing with him, provided he has full legal capacity.
then the district mayor ('umdah) or equivalent must attend the search, at the request of the searcher. That is, the mayor's attendance is tied to the request of the person carrying out the search.
Second: who assesses the impossibility?
The article refers to Article 47 of the Criminal Procedure Law, and provides that two matters are for the investigator or the person to whom the search order was addressed:
- Assessing whether the attendance of the homeowner or those mentioned with him is impossible.
- Determining who counts as equivalent to the district mayor.
This article comes after Article 31 of the Regulations, which requires the search to stop as soon as the required items are found, and before Article 33, which regulates the search record and its contents.
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 an apartment Khalid rents in Jeddah, and he was traveling with none of his family living with him. The person carrying out the search requested the attendance of the district mayor, who attended and the search was carried out in his presence, and assessing the impossibility of Khalid's attendance was for the investigator or the person to whom the search order was addressed.
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 32 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
Can a house be searched in its owner's absence?
The article regulates the case where the owner, his representative or a full-capacity family member living with him cannot attend, in which the district mayor or equivalent attends at the searcher's request.
Who decides that the homeowner's attendance is impossible?
Assessing the impossibility is for the investigator or the person to whom the search order was addressed.
Is the attendance of the homeowner's son enough?
The article mentions a member of the family residing with him, provided he has full legal capacity.
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 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 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.