Article 46 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
المادة 46 من اللائحة التنفيذية لنظام الإجراءات الجزائية · الفصل الأول: تصرفات المحقق
The article directs inquiries from government bodies to the Bureau or the body handling the case, without anything that may affect the investigation, and provides that the Bureau informing them is not a disclosure of secrets.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- توجه استفسارات الجهات الحكومية ذات العلاقة إلى الهيئة، أو إلى الجهة التي لديها القضية، على ألا يشتمل الاستفسار أو الإجابة على ما قد يؤثر في سير التحقيق أو إجراءاته.
2 - لا تعد إفادة الهيئة للجهات الحكومية ذات العلاقة عن إجراءات التحقيق ونتائجها في شأن قضية تحقق فيها الهيئة؛ من قبيل إفشاء الأسرار المشار إليه في المادة (الثامنة والستين) من النظام.
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 46 explained in plain English
This article of the Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law regulates the relationship between the investigating body and other government bodies that need information about a criminal case.
1- Where are inquiries directed?
- To the Bureau (the Bureau of Investigation and Public Prosecution), or
- To the body that has the case.
The restriction: Neither the inquiry nor the answer may include anything that may affect the course or procedures of the investigation. The restriction applies to both sides: the body asking and the body answering.
2- Is informing them a disclosure of secrets?
The article provides that the Bureau informing relevant government bodies about investigation procedures and their results in a case the Bureau is investigating is not considered a disclosure of secrets as referred to in Article 68 of the Law.
What does this mean for the accused? The Bureau may inform a relevant government body about the investigation procedures and their results without that being a disclosure of secrets under the text. The article does not specify who the relevant bodies are.
Relationship to neighboring articles: This provision relates to Article 41 of the Regulations, which gives a person harmed by the disclosure of information about seized items without legal justification the right to sue, and to Article 47, which requires those attending investigation procedures not to disclose its secrets.
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
A government employee in Riyadh is under investigation in a case, and his employer asked the Bureau about the case. The Bureau may inform it about the investigation procedures and their results without that being considered a disclosure of secrets, provided neither the inquiry nor the answer includes anything that may affect the course of the investigation.
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 46 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
May the Bureau inform a government body about an ongoing investigation?
The Bureau informing relevant government bodies about investigation procedures and their results is not considered a disclosure of secrets, provided it does not affect the course or procedures of the investigation.
Where are government bodies' inquiries directed?
To the Bureau or to the body that has the case.
Is there a restriction on the content of the inquiry?
Yes, neither the inquiry nor the answer may include anything that may affect the course or procedures of the investigation.
More articles on Investigation and Inspection Procedures
- 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 16
The article sets the contents of the officer's record on going to the scene of the crime, requires him to show his identity, and regulates acting outside his jurisdiction, informing the Authority and continuing inquiries.
1 - يقوم رجـل الضبط الجنائي - عند الانتقال إلى مكان وقوع الجريمة بحسب المادة (السابعة والعشرين) من النظام - بتحرير محضر يشتمل على ما يأتي: أ) تاريخ اتخاذ الإجرا
- Article 44
The article sets the conditions for the validity of the delegation in Article 66 of the Law, and explains when the delegated officer must be named and when identifying his job function is enough.
1- يشترط لصحة الندب - الوارد في المادة (السادسة والستين) من النظام - أن يصدر صريحاً ممن يملكه، وأن يكون مثبتاً بالكتابة، ويبين فيه اسم من أصدره، ووظيفته وتوقيعه
- Article 45
The article makes the delegate responsible for assessing the fear of running out of time referred to in Article 67 of the Law, subject to the Bureau's oversight.
يكون تقدير خشية فوات الوقت المشار إليه في المادة (السابعة والستين) من النظام للمندوب، ويخضع هذا التقدير لرقابة الهيئة.
- Article 47
The article regulates adding the private claimant's claim to the case file, attendance at investigation procedures and barring it when necessary, multiple lawyers, and the duty not to disclose investigation secrets.
1- إذا قبل المحقق ادعاء المدعي بالحق الخاص استناداً إلى الفقرة (1) من المادة (التاسعة والستين) من النظام؛ فيلحقه بملف الدعوى، ويشير إليه في لائحة الدعوى. 2 - يك
- Article 48
The article sets the details required in a notice to the court administration under Article 72 of the Law, and refers to paragraph 2 of Article 106 of the Regulations for what the court administration does.
1- يجب أن يتضمن إبلاغ إدارة المحكمة - المشار إليه في المادة (الثانية والسبعين) من النظام - اسم المجني عليه واسم المدعي بالحق الخاص واسم المتهم، والتهمة المنسوبة
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.