Article 34 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
المادة 34 من اللائحة التنفيذية لنظام الإجراءات الجزائية · الفصل الثالث: تفتيش الأشخاص والمساكن
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 إفادتها فيه عند الاقتضاء.
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 34 explained in plain English
This article of the Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law deals with a special case: searching a home where there is only the accused woman, in which a woman accompanies those carrying out the search.
What must be recorded in the search report?
- The name of the woman accompanying those carrying out the search.
- The details needed to establish her identity.
- Her address.
- Her statement, where necessary, meaning where the need arises.
Purpose of the provision: Documenting the identity of the accompanying woman makes it possible to refer back to her later to verify what happened during the search, and strengthens confidence that the procedure was sound.
Relationship to neighboring articles: This article complements Article 33 of the Regulations on the search report, its conditions and its content. It also relates to a similar provision in Article 30 of the Regulations, which requires recording the name, details, address and signature of the woman delegated to search the accused woman herself, and requires the accused to be searched out of the sight of men. The difference is that Article 30 concerns searching the accused woman's person, while this article concerns searching a home where there is only the accused woman.
The article does not specify who the accompanying woman must be or how she is chosen.
If you are a party to a case and want to know how this provision affects your situation, you can consult a lawyer who specializes in criminal cases.
Practical example
An order was issued to search an apartment in Makkah where an accused woman lives alone. A woman accompanied those carrying out the search, and her name, identity details and address were recorded in the search report, and her statement was written down because the situation called for 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 34 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
What is recorded about the accompanying woman in the search report?
Her name, the details needed to establish her identity and her address are recorded, and her statement is written down where necessary.
When does this provision apply?
When searching a home where there is only the accused woman.
Must the accompanying woman's statement always be recorded?
No, her statement is recorded only where necessary.
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 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
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.