Article 36 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
المادة 36 من اللائحة التنفيذية لنظام الإجراءات الجزائية · الفصل الثالث: تفتيش الأشخاص والمساكن
The article makes breaking the seals on containers of seized items the investigator's task after checking the seal is intact, with a report, resealing, and inviting the accused, his agent or the person from whom the items were seized.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- يكون فض أختام أحراز المضبوطات - استناداً إلى المادة (الحادية والخمسين) من النظام - بمعرفة المحقق. وعليه أن يتأكد من سلامة الختم قبل فضه، ويحرَّر محضرٌ بذلك، وبعد فضّه والاطلاع على المضبوطات وإجراء اللازم يعاد تحريزها وختمها مرة أخرى، ويثبت المحقق ذلك في محضر مستقل.
2 - على المحقق أن يثبت دعوة المتهم، أو وكيله، أو مَنْ ضبطت عنده الأشياء المضبوطة لحضور فض ختم حرزها بمحضر يفيد تبلغهم بذلك في الوقت المحدد.
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 36 explained in plain English
This article of the Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law, based on Article 51 of the Law, explains how sealed containers of seized items are opened.
First: who breaks the seal and how?
- The seal is broken by the investigator.
- The investigator checks that the seal is intact before breaking it, and draws up a report to that effect.
- After breaking the seal, reviewing the seized items and doing what is necessary, they are secured and sealed again.
- The investigator records the resecuring and sealing in a separate report.
Second: inviting the persons concerned
The investigator must record the invitation of the accused, his agent or the person from whom the items were seized to attend the breaking of the seal on the container, by a report showing that they were notified of it at the set time. What the text requires is proof of the invitation and of the notification.
Importance of the provision: Checking that the seal is intact and documenting every step protect the evidence from doubt that it was tampered with, and give the accused an opportunity to attend the procedure.
This article is linked to Article 35 of the Regulations, which regulates placing seals, securing, handover, and the ban on disposing of secured items except with written permission from the Bureau.
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
In a case in Jeddah, the investigator needed to examine a secured phone. He invited the accused and his lawyer to attend the breaking of the seal and recorded their notification in a report, then checked that the seal was intact and drew up a report to that effect. After reviewing the phone, he secured and sealed it again and recorded this in a separate report.
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 36 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
Who has the authority to break the seals on containers of seized items?
The seals are broken by the investigator after checking that the seal is intact.
Is the accused invited to attend the opening of the container?
Yes, the investigator must record the invitation of the accused, his agent or the person from whom the items were seized to attend the breaking of the seal, by a report showing they were notified.
What happens to the seized items after they are examined?
They are secured and sealed again, and the investigator records this in a separate report.
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.