Article 63 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
المادة 63 من اللائحة التنفيذية لنظام الإجراءات الجزائية · الفصل الرابع: التصرف في الأشياء المضبوطة
This article of the Regulations specifies the competent court referred to in Article 90 of the Law, and what it does where seized items are disputed or it is doubtful who is entitled to receive them.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- المحكمة المختصة الوارد ذكرها في المادة (التسعين) من النظام هي المحكمة المختصة المنصوص عليها في المادة (الثامنة والثمانين) من النظام.
2- إذا رفع الأمر إلى المحكمة المختصة عند المنازعة على الأشياء المضبوطة أو وجود شك فيمن له الحق في تسلمها - وفقاً للمادة (التسعين) من النظام - فتتخذ ما تراه في شأنه وفقاً لحكم المادة (الثالثة والتسعين) 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 63 explained in plain English
This article of the Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law deals with the question of the competent court regarding seized items; it is an interpretive article that links articles within the Criminal Procedure Law itself.
It has two paragraphs:
- Identifying the court: The competent court mentioned in Article 90 of the Law is the same competent court provided for in Article 88 of the Law. The Regulations here unify what the two phrases mean and do not add a new court.
- Dispute or doubt: If the matter is brought before the competent court because of a dispute over the seized items, or doubt as to who has the right to receive them, under Article 90 of the Law, the court takes what it sees fit regarding it in accordance with Article 93 of the Law.
This article does not set out the content of Articles 88, 90 and 93 of the Law, so whoever wants the details of the rule should consult the text of the Law itself.
This article comes after Article 62 of the Regulations, which makes returning seized items the investigator's task before the case is filed and that of the head of the judicial circuit after it is filed; if the matter is not a simple return but a dispute or doubt about who is entitled, it goes to the competent court as this article explains. It is followed by Article 64, which regulates notifying the owners of seized items of their right to recover them.
If you are a party to a dispute over seized items, it is best to 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 63 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
What is the competent court referred to in Article 90 of the Law?
According to this article of the Regulations, it is the competent court provided for in Article 88 of the Law.
What happens if two people disagree over a seized item?
If the matter is brought before the competent court because of a dispute over seized items or doubt as to who has the right to receive them, the court takes what it sees fit regarding it in accordance with Article 93 of the Law.
More articles on Seized Items and Their Return
- Article 35
The article regulates sealing and guarding after a search, securing weapons, explosives, narcotics, cash and jewelry, handing over seized items, and the ban on disposing of them without the Bureau's permission.
1- على رجل الضبط الجنائي قبل مغادرة مكان التفتيش أن يضع الأختام على الأماكن التي فيها آثار أو أشياء تفيد في كشف الحقيقة ويتعذر تحريزها، أو أن يضعها تحت الحراسة.
- Article 36
The article makes breaking the seals on containers of seized items the investigator's task after checking the seal is intact, with a report, resealing, and inviting the accused, his agent or the person from whom the items were seized.
1- يكون فض أختام أحراز المضبوطات - استناداً إلى المادة (الحادية والخمسين) من النظام - بمعرفة المحقق. وعليه أن يتأكد من سلامة الختم قبل فضه، ويحرَّر محضرٌ بذلك،
- Article 55
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.
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 ال
- Article 60
The article requires the investigator to issue an order attaching items seized during the investigation if they are subject to confiscation.
إذا كانت الاشياء التي ضبطت أثناء التحقيق محلاً للمصادرة؛ فيصدر المحقق أمراً بحجزها.
- Article 61
This article of the Regulations requires the investigator to take what is necessary to destroy seized items whose possession is prohibited by sharia or law, or to demand confiscation of those subject to confiscation.
إذا كانت المضبوطات مما تُمنع حيازته شرعاً أو نظاماً، أو كانت محلاً للمصادرة؛ فعلى المحقق إجراء ما يلزم حيال إتلافها أو المطالبة بمصادرتها، وذلك بحسب الأحوال.
- Article 62
This article of the Regulations specifies who is competent to return seized items: the investigator before the case is filed with the court, and the head of the judicial circuit after it is filed.
يختص المحقق برد المضبوطات قبل رفع القضية إلى المحكمة، وبعد رفعها يكون ذلك من اختصاص رئيس الدائرة القضائية.
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.