Article 40 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
المادة 40 من اللائحة التنفيذية لنظام الإجراءات الجزائية · الفصل الرابع: ضبط الرسائل ومراقبة المحادثات
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يكون تبليغ المتهم بمضمون الخطابات والرسائل البريدية والبرقية - وفقاً للمادة (التاسعة والخمسين) من النظام - عن طريق المحقق أو من يندبه.
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 40 explained in plain English
This article of the Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law specifies who notifies the accused of the contents of the correspondence referred to in Article 59 of the Criminal Procedure Law.
Scope of the article:
- Letters.
- Postal messages.
- Telegraph messages.
Who carries out the notification?
Notification is made through the investigator, or whoever he delegates for that purpose. Notification thus remains under the supervision of the investigating body.
Limits of the article: This article regulates only the means of notification and who carries it out. When the accused is notified and the conditions for that are a matter for the text of Article 59 of the Law, which is not set out here, so it is advisable to consult it directly.
Relationship to neighboring articles: This article follows Article 39 of the Regulations, which obliges the competent bodies to provide resources when the head of the Bureau orders messages to be seized or permits calls to be monitored, and precedes Article 41, which gives a person harmed by the disclosure of information about seized items and papers without legal justification the right to sue whoever caused it.
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 40 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
Who notifies the accused of the contents of seized messages?
Notification is made through the investigator or whoever he delegates.
What types of correspondence does the article mention?
Letters, and postal and telegraph messages.
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 39
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.
عند صدور أمر رئيس الهيئة بضبط الرسائل والخطابات والمطبوعات والطرود، أو إذنه بمراقبة المحادثات الهاتفية وتسجيلها؛ فعلى الجهات المختصة توفير جميع الإمكانات المتاح
- 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.

