Article 55 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
المادة 55 من اللائحة التنفيذية لنظام الإجراءات الجزائية · الفصل الثالث: الانتقال والمعاينة والتفتيش وضبط الأشياء المتعلقة بالجريمة
The article sets what the investigator does on reaching the crime scene: inspecting, recording and hearing initial information, with the option of sealing places, and requires seizing and securing whatever relates to the crime.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- يبدأ المحقق فور وصوله إلى مكان وقوع الجريمة بإجراء المعاينة اللازمة، وإلقاء نظرة فاحصة وشاملة على مكان وقوع الجريمة، ويثبت حالة الأشخاص، والأشياء، والآثار المادية المتبقية عن الجريمة، ويستمع بصورة سريعة وشفهية للمعلومات الأولية المتوافرة عن كيفية حدوثها، ووقت ارتكابها، وهوية مرتكبها والشهود.
2 - للمحقق أن يأمر بوضع الأختام على الأماكن التي وقعت فيها الجريمة، أو التي بقيت فيها آثار للجريمة أو أشياء تفيد في كشف الحقيقة.
3 - على المحقق ضبط كل ما له علاقة بالجريمة ويتبع في تحريز ما تسفر عنه المعاينة من أدلة مادية مضبوطة الإجراءات المقررة في هذا الشأن.
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 55 explained in plain English
This article of the Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law details what the investigator does as soon as he arrives at the scene of the crime.
1- Initial inspection: The investigator begins at once with the following:
- Carrying out the necessary inspection and taking a careful, comprehensive look at the scene.
- Recording the condition of the people, the items and the physical traces remaining from the crime.
- Quickly hearing, orally, the initial information available on how it happened, when it was committed, and the identity of the perpetrator and the witnesses.
2- Seals: The investigator may order seals to be placed on:
- The places where the crime occurred.
- The places where traces of the crime or items useful in establishing the truth remain.
3- Seizure and securing: The investigator must seize everything related to the crime, and the procedures prescribed for this are followed in securing the seized physical evidence that the inspection yields. These include what Article 35 of the Regulations provides on securing weapons, explosives, narcotics, cash and jewelry, and on multiple containers.
Relationship to neighboring articles: It is preceded by Article 54, which makes inspection the investigator's own task with the option of delegating a criminal investigation officer and tasking forensic experts, and followed by Article 56, which regulates examining the sites of the offense on the victim's body.
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
The investigator arrived at the scene of a fight that ended in an injury in a neighborhood of Jeddah. He recorded the condition of the injured person and the place, quickly heard from those present how it happened and who the witnesses were, ordered the shop where it occurred to be sealed, and seized a sharp object found there and secured it.
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 55 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
What does the investigator do first on reaching the crime scene?
He starts at once with the necessary inspection and records the condition of people, items and traces, and quickly hears the initial information orally.
May the investigator seal the crime scene?
Yes, he may order seals to be placed on the places of the crime or places where traces or items useful in establishing the truth remain.
What does the investigator do with the physical evidence?
He must seize everything related to the crime and follow the prescribed procedures in securing it.
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 46
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.
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 إج
- 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
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.