Article 77 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
المادة 77 من اللائحة التنفيذية لنظام الإجراءات الجزائية · الفصل السابع: التكليف بالحضور وأمر القبض والإحضار
This article of the Regulations requires the investigator to issue an order placing an arrested person in the place of detention if he cannot be interrogated at once, recording the reason, and allows another investigator to be assigned if the reason lies with the investigator.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- إذا قرر المحقق إيداع المتهم المقبوض عليه مكان التوقيف لتعذر استجوابه فور القبض عليه بحسب ما نصت عليه المادة (التاسعة بعد المائة) من النظام؛ فيُصدِر أمراً بذلك، ويدون سبب تعذر استجوابه في محضر التحقيق.
2 - إذا كان سبب تعذر استجواب المتهم المقبوض عليه يرجع إلى المحقق؛ فلرئيس الدائرة التي يتبعها المحقق تكليف محقق آخر.
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 77 explained in plain English
This article of the Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law deals with the case of being unable to interrogate the accused immediately upon his arrest, as provided in Article 109 of the Law.
It has two paragraphs:
- The placement order and recording the reason: If the investigator decides to place the arrested accused in the place of detention because he could not be interrogated immediately upon his arrest, he must issue an order to that effect and record the reason for the inability to interrogate him in the investigation report. Placement is not made without an order, and the reason does not remain undocumented.
- If the reason lies with the investigator: The head of the department the investigator belongs to may assign another investigator, so that the accused's interrogation is not delayed because of a circumstance concerning the investigator himself.
This article does not specify how long the accused remains placed before being interrogated, and does not explain the content of Article 109 of the Law, so the text of the Law should be consulted.
This article is linked to Article 76 of the Regulations, which provides that issuing an order of arrest and bringing does not necessarily mean the accused is detained, and to Article 78, which regulates what the investigator does if the accused objects to being transferred or his health does not permit transfer.
If a relative of yours was arrested and has not been interrogated, you can consult a lawyer who specializes in criminal cases to learn the procedures.
Practical example
Hassan was arrested in Jeddah in the evening, and could not be interrogated at once because the assigned investigator was on another assignment. The investigator issues an order placing him in the place of detention and records the reason in the report, and the head of the department the investigator belongs to may assign another investigator because the reason lies with the investigator.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
How we write and review contentCriminal Law lawyers: ask a specialist about your case
Describe your situation briefly and we'll suggest a lawyer who specialises in this law
Criminal Law lawyers
Lawyers who handle this kind of case
Ibrahim Al Salem Law Firm
Active contributor
Dr. Ali Al-Rubaie Law Office and Ittihad Al-Asr Legal Company
Frequently asked questions about Article 77 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
What happens if the accused is not interrogated immediately upon arrest?
If the investigator decides to place him in the place of detention because he could not be interrogated, he issues an order to that effect and records the reason for the inability in the investigation report.
Can the investigator be changed if he is the cause of the delay?
Yes, the head of the department the investigator belongs to may assign another investigator if the reason for the inability to interrogate the accused lies with the investigator.
More articles on Detention and Temporary Release
- Article 24
The article sets the grounds for detention during investigation, requires the detention department to notify the issuing body before the period ends and release at once if no extension comes, and governs detaining women and juveniles.
1 - أسباب التوقيف أثناء التحقيق هي: أ) إذا كانت الجريمة من الجرائم الكبيرة. ب) إذا استوجبت مصلحة التحقيق توقيف المتهم. ج) إذا لم يعين المتهم مكاناً يوافق عليه ا
- Article 75
This article of the Regulations requires the person required for investigation to be notified of the summons at least 24 hours before the investigation unless urgency requires otherwise, with the recipient's signature taken or his refusal noted.
يجب أن يبلغ الشخص الذي يُطلب التحقيق معه - وفق ما نصت عليه المادة (الخامسة بعد المائة) من النظام - بأمر الحضور قبل (أربع وعشرين) ساعة على الأقل من موعد التحقيق،
- Article 76
This article of the Regulations provides that issuing an order of arrest and bringing under Article 107 of the Law does not necessarily mean the accused is detained.
لا يلزم من صدور الأمر بالقبض والإحضار - وفقاً للمادة (السابعة بعد المائة) من النظام - توقيف المتهم.
- Article 78
This article of the Regulations requires the investigator, as soon as he learns of the accused's objection to transfer or that his health does not permit it, to order release, continued detention, delegation or transfer.
على المحقق فور تبلغه باعتراض المتهم على نقله - استناداً إلى المادة (الحادية عشرة بعد المائة) من النظام - أو بأن حالته الصحية لا تسمح بالنقل؛ أن يُصدر أمره فوراً
- Article 79
This article of the Regulations specifies the details a detention order must contain, including the accused's name, the type of crime, the reasons for the order and the period of detention.
يجب أن يشتمل أمر التوقيف - الصادر استناداً إلى المادة (الثالثة عشرة بعد المائة) من النظام - على الآتي: أ) اسم الشخص المطلوب توقيفه كاملاً، وجنسيته، ومهنته، ومحل
- Article 80
This article of the Regulations requires a copy of the detention order to be kept in the case file and the detainee to be enabled to file a grievance, and specifies the body to which the grievance is submitted according to who issued the order or extension.
1- على المحقق أن يحفظ نسخة من أمر التوقيف في ملف القضية. 2 - على جهة التوقيف تمكين الموقوف احتياطياً من تقديم التظلم على أمر توقيفه استناداً إلى المادة (الخامسة
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.