Article 4 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
المادة 4 من اللائحة التنفيذية لنظام الإجراءات الجزائية · الفصل الأول: رفع الدعوى الجزائية
The article defines crimes requiring a private right of individuals as those whose harm is confined to the victim, and explains the effect of a complaint where there are several victims or accused.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- الجرائم الواجب فيها حق خاص للأفراد المشار إليها في المادة (السابعة عشرة) من النظام هي ما اقتصر الضرر فيها على المجني عليه.
2 - إذا كان هناك أكثر من مجني عليه في واقعة جنائية واحدة؛ فتكون شكوى أحدهم كافية لإقامة الدعوى الجزائية العامة.
3 - إذا كان هناك أكثر من متهم في واقعة جنائية واحدة، وكانت الشكوى مقدمة ضد أحدهم، فيجوز إقامة الدعوى الجزائية العامة ضد الباقين.
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 4 explained in plain English
This article of the Regulations interprets the phrase "crimes requiring a private right of individuals" in Article 17 of the Criminal Procedure Law, and deals with cases of multiple parties.
- What these crimes are: crimes in which the harm is confined to the victim, that is, their effect does not extend beyond him to others.
- Several victims: if one criminal incident has more than one victim, the complaint of one of them is enough to bring the public criminal case, and it is not necessary for all of them to complain.
- Several accused: if one incident has more than one accused and the complaint is submitted against only one of them, the public criminal case may also be brought against the rest.
Article 17 of the Regulations refers to this article, as it provides that if the holder of the private right waives his right, the public criminal case may not be brought except as provided in Article 17 of the Law and Article 4 of the Regulations. This article is thus part of the rules that determine when the public case is tied to the will of the victim.
Because determining whether the harm of a particular crime is confined to the victim depends on the facts of each case, anyone who needs this may consult a lawyer specializing in criminal cases.
Practical example
Two people in Dammam were defrauded in a single incident, and one of them filed a complaint while the other did not. The first one's complaint is enough to bring the public criminal case. And if there were three fraudsters and the complaint was submitted against one of them, the public case may be brought against the others as well.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
How we write and review contentCriminal Law lawyers: ask a specialist about your case
Describe your situation briefly and we'll suggest a lawyer who specialises in this law
Criminal Law lawyers
Lawyers who handle this kind of case
Ibrahim Al Salem Law Firm
Active contributor
Dr. Ali Al-Rubaie Law Office and Ittihad Al-Asr Legal Company
Frequently asked questions about Article 4 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
What is meant by crimes requiring a private right of individuals?
Crimes in which the harm is confined to the victim, according to paragraph 1 of this article.
If there is more than one victim, must they all complain?
No. The complaint of one of them is enough to bring the public criminal case.
If the complaint is submitted against one accused, is the case brought against his partners?
The public criminal case may be brought against the rest of the accused in the same incident.
More articles on Criminal Case and Its Lapse
- Article 2
The article requires the Authority to notify the court in writing of the names of the authorized public prosecutors, and explains that conducting the public case includes presenting evidence, producing it, and bearing the burden of proof.
1- تبعث الهيئة كتاباً إلى المحكمة بأسماء المدعين العامين المفوضين بإقامة الدعوى الجزائية العامة أمامها. 2 - مباشرة الدعوى الجزائية العامة أمام المحاكم المختصة ت
- Article 3
The article explains that the case meant in Article 16 of the Law is the private criminal case, and governs how the defendant and the public prosecutor are notified in it.
1- الدعوى الجزائية المشار إليها في المادة (السادسة عشرة) من النظام هي الدعوى الجزائية الخاصة التي تشتمل على حق خاص وحق عام. 2 - لا يبلغ المدعى عليه في الدعوى ال
- Article 5
The article explains that the victim and heir meant in Article 18 of the Law are those with limited or no legal capacity, and requires recording what the court does when their interest conflicts with their representative's.
1- يُقصـد بالمجني عليه ووارثه المشار إليهما في المـادة (الثامنة عشرة) من النظام؛ من كان ناقص الأهليـة أو فاقدهـا. 2 - يُدون في ضبط الدعوى ما تجريه المحكمة التي
- Article 6
The article explains that the case mentioned in Article 19 of the Law is the public case, and sets how the court notifies whoever brought it and his duty to inform the court of what he did.
1- الدعوى المشار إليها في المادة (التاسعة عشرة) من النظام هي الدعوى الجزائية العامة. 2 - يكون إبلاغ المحكمة لمن رفع الدعوى - في الحالتين المنصوص عليهما في الماد
- Article 8
The article explains the in-law relationship and the enmity that bar a member of the Authority from handling a case, and lets any opponent request disqualification of the investigator before or during the investigation.
1- لا يشترط لقيام صلة المصاهرة المنصوص عليها في الفقرة (1) من المادة (الحادية والعشرين) من النظام؛ أن تكون رابطة الزوجية قائمة. 2 - العداوة التي تمنع عضو الهيئة
- Article 9
The article provides that the private criminal case is considered brought from the date the statement of claim submitted by the claimant is registered at the court.
تعد القضية مرفوعة في الدعوى الجزائية الخاصة من تاريخ قيد صحيفة الدعوى المقدمة من المدعي في المحكمة.
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.