Article 87 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
المادة 87 من اللائحة التنفيذية لنظام الإجراءات الجزائية · الفصل العاشر: انتهاء التحقيق والتصرف في الدعوى
This article of the Regulations requires an investigation procedure to precede archiving of a case, and regulates notifying the heirs of the private claimant of the archiving order.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- يشترط لحفظ الدعوى - وفق المادة (الرابعة والعشرين بعد المائة) من النظام - أن يسبقه إجراء من إجراءات التحقيق.
2 - يحصل تبليغ جميع ورثة المدعي بالحق الخاص بأمر الحفظ؛ بتسليمهم صورة مصدقة من نموذج التبليغ في مكان إقامة المدعي بالحق الخاص قبل وفاته وإن تعددت أماكن إقامتهم.
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 87 explained in plain English
This article of the Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law deals with archiving the case under Article 124 of the Law, and has two paragraphs:
- Condition for archiving: For a case to be archived, an investigation procedure must precede it. A case in which no investigation at all was conducted is not archived under this provision.
- Notifying the heirs of the private claimant: If the private claimant dies, all of his heirs are notified of the archiving order by handing them a certified copy of the notification form at the private claimant's place of residence before his death, even if their places of residence are several.
The second paragraph thus specifies a single place for notification, which is the place of residence of the deceased before his death, even if the heirs live in different places. The article does not state what periods or rights follow from the notification, and does not explain the content of Article 124 of the Law.
This article is in Chapter Ten of the Regulations on the end of the investigation and disposition of the case, and is linked to Article 88, which regulates including in the statement of the case what was done about seized items by the public prosecutor, and supplementary investigation after the case is filed. It is preceded by Article 86 on the court's release of a detained accused.
If an order has been issued archiving a case in which you or your deceased relative had a private right, it is advisable to consult a lawyer who specializes in criminal cases to learn the steps available.
Practical example
Sulaiman filed a complaint including a private right, then died before the case ended, and an order archiving the case was then issued. All his heirs are notified of the archiving order by handing them a certified copy of the notification form at the place where Sulaiman lived before his death, even if some of them live in other cities.
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 87 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
Can a case be archived without any investigation?
The article requires an investigation procedure to precede archiving of the case.
How are the heirs of the private claimant notified of the archiving order?
By handing them a certified copy of the notification form at the private claimant's place of residence before his death, even if their places of residence are several.
More articles on Case Closure and Criminal Jurisdiction
- Article 10
The article states what is issued when the public case lapses before being brought, either filing the papers or filing the case, and that lapse does not prevent investigation, confiscation or proceeding against the other accused.
1- إذا انقضت الدعوى الجزائية العامة قبل رفعها إلى المحكمة فيصدر رئيس دائرة التحقيق أمراً بحفظ الأوراق وفق ما نصت عليه المادة (الثالثة والستون) من النظام والمادة
- Article 42
The article requires an order to archive papers to be written and reasoned, and makes archiving before any investigation procedure an administrative act that the Bureau may reverse at any time.
1- يجب أن يكون الأمر بحفظ الأوراق - المنصوص عليه في المادة (الثالثة والستين) من النظام - مكتوباً ومسبباً. 2 - يكون حفظ الأوراق قبل اتخاذ أي إجراء من إجراءات الت
- Article 43
The article requires the investigator to notify the victim and the private claimant, or their heirs, of the order to archive papers in writing, with the person notified signing to acknowledge it in a special register.
يُبلغ المحققُ المجني عليه والمدعي بالحق الخاص، أو ورثتهما - بحسب الأحوال - بأمر حفظ الأوراق؛ كتابةً، ويوقع المبلَّغ بالعلم به في سجل خاص لذلك.
- Article 63
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.
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 الم
- Article 65
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.
1- المحكمة التي يقع في دائرتها مكان التحقيق - الوارد ذكرها في المادة (الثالثة والتسعين) من النظام - هي المحكمة المختصة المنصوص عليها في المادة (الثامنة والثماني
- Article 88
This article of the Regulations requires the public prosecutor to include in the statement of the case what was done about seized items and his requests regarding them, and regulates supplementary investigation after the case is filed.
1- إذا كان في القضية مضبوطات تتعلق بموضوع الدعوى، فعلى المدعي العام - عند الاقتضاء - أن يضمن لائحة الدعوى - المعدة استناداً إلى المادة (السادسة والعشرين بعد الم
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.