Article 7 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
المادة 7 من اللائحة التنفيذية لنظام الإجراءات الجزائية · الفصل الأول: رفع الدعوى الجزائية
The article explains that the acts mentioned in Article 20 of the Law are those occurring outside the session, and sets referral to a larger number of judges when needed and hearing them in a separate record.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- يُقصد بالأفعال المشار إليها في المادة (العشرين) من النظام؛ ما كان خارج الجلسة، وتطبق فيما كان داخلها أحكام الفصل (الثالث) من الباب (السادس) من النظام وأحكام الفصل (الثالث) من الباب (السادس) من اللائحة.
2 - إذا كان نظر تلك الأفعال يتطلب عدداً أكبر من القضاة فتحيلها الدائرة القضائية التي تنظر الدعوى الجزائية إلى دائرة قضائية مختصة يتوافر فيها العدد المطلوب.
3 - يكون النظر في هذه الأفعال في ضبط مستقل، ما لم تر الدائرة نظرها في ضبط الدعوى الأصلية.
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 7 explained in plain English
This article of the Regulations interprets the scope of Article 20 of the Criminal Procedure Law, and sets rules for hearing those acts:
- Scope of Article 20 of the Law: the acts referred to in it are those that occur outside the session. What occurs inside the session is subject to the provisions of Chapter Three of Part Six of the Law, and the provisions of Chapter Three of Part Six of the Regulations.
- Need for a larger number of judges: if hearing these acts requires more judges than are in the circuit hearing the criminal case, it refers them to a competent judicial circuit in which the required number is available.
- Separate record: these acts are heard in a separate record from the record of the original case, unless the circuit sees fit to hear them in the record of the original case.
The practical difference between the two situations is that what happens inside the courtroom has its own provisions in the chapters referred to, whereas this article governs what occurs outside it. This article does not state the nature of these acts or their penalty, which is for the text of Article 20 of the Law.
It is a procedural article on the work of judicial circuits, and is followed by Article 8 on the grounds that bar a member of the Authority from handling a case. Anyone who is a party to a procedure of this kind may consult a lawyer specializing 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 7 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
What acts are meant in Article 20 of the Criminal Procedure Law?
According to this article, acts occurring outside the session; what occurs inside it is subject to Chapter Three of Part Six of the Law and the Regulations.
What does the circuit do if hearing the act requires more judges?
It refers it to a competent judicial circuit in which the required number is available.
Are these acts heard in the record of the original case?
The rule is that they are heard in a separate record, unless the circuit sees fit to hear them in the record of the original case.
More articles on Criminal Trial Procedures
- Article 91
This article of the Regulations leaves it to the court hearing the case to assess whether judgment in a criminal case depends on the result of another criminal case, and requires it, if it stays the case, to inform the other court.
1- يُرجع في تقدير توقف الحكم في الدعوى الجزائية على نتيجة الفصل في دعوى جزائية أخرى؛ إلى المحكمة التي تنظر الدعوى الجزائية. 2 - إذا قررت المحكمة وقف دعوى منظورة
- Article 92
This article of the Regulations provides that if a court or circuit finds it lacks jurisdiction it refers the case by decision to the competent one, and if the second also finds it lacks jurisdiction the matter goes to the Supreme Court to designate the competent one.
إذا رأت محكمة أو دائرة عدم اختصاصها في دعوى مرفوعة إليها وأنها من اختصاص محكمة أو دائرة أخرى، فتصدر قراراً بذلك، وتحيلها إلى المحكمة أو الدائرة الأخرى ، فإن رأت
- Article 93
This article of the Regulations requires that if a case is brought before two courts or circuits and each decides it has jurisdiction, they stop hearing it and send the papers to the Supreme Court to designate the competent one.
إذا رفعت دعوى إلى محكمتين أو دائرتين وقررت كل منهما اختصاصها؛ فتصدر كل منهما قراراً بذلك، ويجب عليهما إيقاف نظر الدعوى ورفع الأوراق إلى المحكمة العليا عن طريق ا
- Article 94
The article leaves it to the competent judicial circuit to assess the necessity that allows shortening the time to appear, and the length of the extension the accused requests to prepare a defense.
يعود إلى الدائرة القضائية المختصة بنظر الدعوى تقدير الضرورة التي تجيز إنقاص موعد الحضور في الدعوى الجزائية وتقدير مدة المهلة التي يطلب المتهم منحه إياها لإعداد
- Article 95
If the accused's place of residence cannot be found after adequate searching, the bailiff draws up a detailed report, and the bailiffs' department hands a copy of the notice to the emirate, governorate or center responsible for the place of notification.
إذا تعذرت معرفة مكان إقامة المتهم بعد البحث الكافي عنه وبعد الاستعانة بالجهات الأخرى ذات العلاقة - لتبليغه بالحضور أمام المحكمة وفق ما قضت به المادة (السابعة وا
- Article 98
The article sets that the accused may not send an agent in his place in serious-crime cases, and regulates the effect of his absence, acceptance of his excuse, and the related detention order.
1- الأحوال التي لا يسوغ للمتهم فيها إرسال وكيل عنه للحضور أمام المحكمة - وفقاً للمادة (الأربعين بعد المائة) من النظام - هي قضايا الجرائم الكبيرة. 2 - إذا رصدت د
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.