Article 33 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
المادة 33 من اللائحة التنفيذية لنظام الإجراءات الجزائية · الفصل الثالث: تفتيش الأشخاص والمساكن
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 بدون أي شطب أو كشط أو محو أو تحشية أو تحشير أو ترك فراغ، وإذا وقع شيء من ذلك وقَّع عليه من كتبه، ومن قام بالتفتيش. وإذا دعت الحاجة إلى الاستعانة بمترجم فيُذكر ذلك في المحضر، ويجب أن يُوقِّع عليه المترجم.
3 - يجب أن يتضمن محضر التفتيش - بالإضافة إلى ما ورد في المادة (الثامنة والأربعين) من النظام - وصفاً للمكان الذي تم تفتيشه بدقة وكذلك وصفاً للأشياء التي عُثر عليها، وأماكن وجودها، والأحوال التي صاحبت اكتشاف تلك الأشياء، وكذلك أيّ أمرٍ من الأمور التي قد تفيد في إثبات التهمة أو نفيها.
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 33 explained in plain English
This article of the Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law regulates the search record referred to in Article 48 of the Law, which is the document recording what happened during the search.
1- The record is always required: the record is drawn up even if the search resulted in seizing nothing; a search that yields no result does not excuse documenting it.
2- Form of the record:
- It is written in Arabic.
- It is drawn up without deletion, scraping, erasure, interlineation, insertion or leaving blank spaces.
- If any of that occurs, the record's writer and the person who carried out the search sign it.
- If a translator is needed, this is stated in the record and the translator must sign it.
3- Contents of the record: in addition to what is in Article 48 of the Law, it must contain:
- An accurate description of the place that was searched.
- A description of the items found and where they were found.
- The circumstances that accompanied their discovery.
- Anything that may help to prove or disprove the charge.
The last point is important: the record must record what helps the accused as well as what incriminates him. Article 34 of the Regulations complements this provision by recording the details of the accompanying woman when a home is searched in which there is only the female accused.
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
A small company's warehouse in Dammam was searched for counterfeit goods, and nothing was found. Even so, a search record must be drawn up in Arabic describing the place accurately and showing that the search resulted in seizing nothing.
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 33 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
Is a record written if nothing is found during the search?
Yes. The article provides for preparing the search record even if it did not result in seizing anything.
What if there are deletions or amendments in the search record?
The record is drawn up without deletion, scraping, erasure or leaving blanks, and if any of that occurs, its writer and the person who carried out the search sign it.
Does the record mention what supports the accused's innocence?
Yes. It must include anything that may help to prove or disprove the charge.
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 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 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.