Article 79 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
المادة 79 من اللائحة التنفيذية لنظام الإجراءات الجزائية · الفصل الثامن: أمر التوقيف
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 إقامته، وتاريخ إصدار الأمر.
ب) اسم المحقق، وتوقيعه، والختم الرسمي لجهته.
ج) تحديد نوع الجريمة المنسوبة إلى المتهم.
د) تسبيب أمر التوقيف.
هـ) بيان تاريخ القبض على المتهم إن كان مقبوضاً عليه.
و) تحديد مدة التوقيف.
ز) توجيه مدير التوقيف بإيداع المتهم مكان التوقيف.
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 79 explained in plain English
This article of the Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law sets out a list of details that a detention order issued under Article 113 of the Law must contain, namely:
- The full name of the person whose detention is required, his nationality, occupation, place of residence, and the date the order was issued.
- The name of the investigator, his signature, and the official seal of his body.
- Specifying the type of crime attributed to the accused.
- Giving reasons for the detention order, that is, stating its reason.
- Stating the date the accused was arrested, if he was arrested.
- Specifying the period of detention.
- Directing the head of the detention facility to place the accused in the place of detention.
The importance of this list is that it makes the detention order a clear document: who is detained, who ordered his detention, why, and until when. An oral order, or an order without a reason or period, is not enough. The article does not state what follows if one of these details is missing.
This article is linked to Article 80 of the Regulations, which requires the investigator to keep a copy of the detention order in the case file and regulates the detainee's grievance against his detention order and the body to which it is submitted. It is also linked to Article 78 on the accused's objection to transfer.
If a detention order has been issued against a relative of yours and you want to check that it is sound, you can consult a lawyer who specializes in criminal cases.
Practical example
An order was issued to detain Omar in a case in Riyadh. The order must include his full name, nationality, occupation and place of residence, the investigator's name, signature and the seal of his body, the type of crime attributed to him, the reason for detention, the date of his arrest, the period of detention, and a direction to the head of the detention facility to place him there.
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 79 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
What details must a detention order contain?
The full name of the detainee, his nationality, occupation, place of residence and the date of the order; the investigator's name, signature and the seal of his body; the type of crime; the reasons for the order; the date of arrest if any; the period of detention; and a direction to the head of the detention facility to place him there.
Must a detention order state its reason?
Yes, giving reasons for the detention order is one of the details it must contain.
Must a detention order specify its duration?
Yes, specifying the period of detention is one of the details required in the order.
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 77
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.
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 بذل
- 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 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.