Article 56 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
المادة 56 من اللائحة التنفيذية لنظام الإجراءات الجزائية · الفصل الثالث: الانتقال والمعاينة والتفتيش وضبط الأشياء المتعلقة بالجريمة
The article permits the investigator to examine the sites of the offense on the victim's body, except where the site is a male's or a minor's private parts or the victim is a woman, in which case he delegates a suitable person.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
للمحقق فحص مواضع الجناية في جسد المجني عليه، إلا إذا كان المجني عليه رجلاً أو حدثاً وكان موضع الجناية في عورته، أو امرأة؛ فعلى المحقق أن يندب من يناسب لذلك حسب الحال.
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 56 explained in plain English
This article of the Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law takes into account the victim's privacy when examining the sites of the offense on his body.
The rule: The investigator may examine the sites of the offense on the victim's body.
The exceptions: The investigator must delegate a suitable person for that, as the case requires, in two cases:
- If the victim is a man or a minor and the site of the offense is in his private parts.
- If the victim is a woman, wherever the site of the offense is, since the text does not limit this case to private parts.
What does the article not specify? It does not state the capacity or qualifications of the person delegated, and settles for the phrase "a suitable person, as the case requires", so choosing him is left to the investigator according to the situation. Nor does the article address the victim's consent to the examination.
Relationship to neighboring articles: It comes within the Regulations' provisions on going to the scene and inspection, after Article 55, which sets out what the investigator starts with on reaching the crime scene and seizing and securing evidence, and before Article 57, which regulates the investigator's access to documents held by government bodies. This provision is consistent with Article 30 of the Regulations, which requires an accused woman to be searched out of the sight of men.
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 woman in Riyadh was assaulted and suffered wounds to her arm. Because the victim is a woman, the investigator does not examine the site of the injury himself, but delegates a suitable person for that, as the case requires.
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 56 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
Does the investigator examine the victim's injuries himself?
He may in principle, unless the victim is a man or a minor and the site of the offense is in his private parts, or the victim is a woman.
Who examines a woman victim?
The investigator delegates a suitable person for that, as the case requires.
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.