Article 39 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
المادة 39 من اللائحة التنفيذية لنظام الإجراءات الجزائية · الفصل الرابع: ضبط الرسائل ومراقبة المحادثات
The article obliges the competent bodies to provide all available resources when the head of the Bureau orders correspondence to be seized or permits phone conversations to be monitored and recorded.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
عند صدور أمر رئيس الهيئة بضبط الرسائل والخطابات والمطبوعات والطرود، أو إذنه بمراقبة المحادثات الهاتفية وتسجيلها؛ فعلى الجهات المختصة توفير جميع الإمكانات المتاحة لذلك.
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 39 explained in plain English
This article of the Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law deals with the practical side of seizing correspondence and monitoring calls.
When does the provision apply?
When either of two things is issued by the head of the Bureau (the Bureau in the Regulations being the Bureau of Investigation and Public Prosecution):
- an order to seize messages, letters, printed matter and parcels.
- a permit to monitor and record phone conversations.
What is the obligation?
The competent bodies must provide all available resources to carry this out. The article does not name these bodies or specify the nature of the resources; it states a duty to cooperate within what is available.
What can be understood from the text? That the source of the order or permit mentioned here is the head of the Bureau, and that the role of the competent bodies is to enable its execution. The article does not address the conditions for issuing the order or its duration.
Relationship to neighboring articles: It is preceded by Article 38 of the Regulations, which requires that seized messages and parcels be recorded in a report, and provides that seizure or monitoring ends once its purpose is achieved, even before the period expires. It is followed by Article 40, which makes notifying the accused of the contents of letters and messages the task of the investigator or whoever he delegates.
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.
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 39 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
Who issues the order to seize correspondence or the permit to monitor calls in this article?
The article refers to an order by the head of the Bureau to seize messages and parcels, or his permit to monitor and record phone conversations.
What is the duty of the competent bodies when the order is issued?
They must provide all available resources to carry out the seizure or monitoring.
More articles on Seizing Letters and Monitoring Calls
- Article 37
The article provides that the rule in Article 56 of the Criminal Procedure Law covers modern, non-public electronic means of communication.
يشمل حـكم المادة (السادسة والخمسين) من النظام وسائلَ التواصل الإلكترونية الحديثة غير العلنية.
- Article 38
The article requires that seized messages, letters, printed matter and parcels be recorded in a report, and provides that seizure or monitoring ends once its purpose is achieved.
1- يجب إثبات ما يُضبط - وفقاً للمادة (السابعة والخمسين) من النظام - من الرسائل والخطابات والمطبوعات والطرود؛ في محضر يوقعه القائم بالضبط، تبين فيه أوصاف المضبوط
- Article 40
The article makes notifying the accused of the contents of letters, postal and telegraph messages under Article 59 of the Law the task of the investigator or whoever he delegates.
يكون تبليغ المتهم بمضمون الخطابات والرسائل البريدية والبرقية - وفقاً للمادة (التاسعة والخمسين) من النظام - عن طريق المحقق أو من يندبه.
- Article 41
The article gives a person harmed by the disclosure, without legal justification, of information about seized items and papers by anyone referred to in Article 61 of the Law the right to sue before the competent court.
للمتضرر من قيام أيٍّ من المشار إليهم في المادة (الحادية والستين) من النظام بإفشاء معلومات عن الأشياء والأوراق المضبوطة دون مسوغ نظامي؛ حق إقامة الدعوى على المتس
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.