Article 65 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
المادة 65 من اللائحة التنفيذية لنظام الإجراءات الجزائية · الفصل الرابع: التصرف في الأشياء المضبوطة
This article of the Regulations makes the court of the place of investigation the competent court, and requires it to refer litigants to the locally competent court if it decides to refer them to litigate and lacks local jurisdiction.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- المحكمة التي يقع في دائرتها مكان التحقيق - الوارد ذكرها في المادة (الثالثة والتسعين) 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 ورأت إحالة الخصوم للتقاضي وكانت غير مختصة مكاناً فتحيلهم إلى المحكمة المختصة مكاناً.
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 65 explained in plain English
This article of the Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law completes the regulation of jurisdiction over seized items, and has two paragraphs:
- Identifying the competent court: The court in whose circuit the place of investigation lies, mentioned in Article 93 of the Law, is the competent court provided for in Article 88 of the Law. That is, the place where the investigation was carried out determines the court.
- Referral to the locally competent court: 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, and the court decides to refer the litigants to litigate, and it lacks local jurisdiction, it refers them to the locally competent court.
The second paragraph applies only when three things come together: a dispute or doubt about who is entitled, the court deciding to refer the litigants to litigate, and the court lacking local jurisdiction. When they do, the court refers the litigants to the locally competent court.
This article does not explain the content of Articles 88 and 93 of the Law, so they should be consulted in the text of the Law. It is linked to Article 64 of the Regulations on notifying owners of seized items of their right to recover them, and to Article 66, which requires the seizing body to state in the seizure reports what is quick to spoil and what requires large expense to keep.
To know the competent court in a particular case, 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 65 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
What is the competent court provided for in Article 88 of the Law?
According to this article of the Regulations, it is the court in whose circuit the place of investigation lies, mentioned in Article 93 of the Law.
What does the court do if it lacks local jurisdiction over a dispute about seized items?
If it decides to refer the litigants to litigate and lacks local jurisdiction, it refers them to the locally competent court.
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.