Article 89 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
المادة 89 من اللائحة التنفيذية لنظام الإجراءات الجزائية · الفصل الأول: الاختصاصات الجزائية
This article of the Regulations provides that releasing the accused after the case is filed does not change territorial jurisdiction based on his place of detention, and regulates where the case is brought against a released accused.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- إذا كان اختصاص المحكمة المكاني بنظر الدعوى قد تحدد بناءً على مكان سجن أو توقيف المتهم، فلا يؤثر الإفراج عنه بعد رفع الدعوى إليها في استمرار اختصاصها بنظر الدعوى.
2 - مع مراعاة ما نصت عليه الفقرة (1) من هذه المادة، لرئيس الهيئة أو من ينيـبه الاختيار في إقامة الدعوى الجزائية العامة على المتهم المفرج عنه في مكان إقامته، أو مكان وقوع الجريمة. وذلك بحسب ما تقتضيه المصلحة العامة، ويتحدد الاختصاص للمحكمة برفع الدعوى إليها.
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 89 explained in plain English
This article of the Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law deals with the court's territorial jurisdiction when the accused's status changes from detained to released, and has two paragraphs:
- Jurisdiction remains after release: If the court's territorial jurisdiction over the case was determined by the place of the accused's imprisonment or detention, his release after the case is filed with it does not affect its continued jurisdiction. The case does not move merely because the accused has been released.
- The case against the released accused: Subject to the first paragraph, the head of the Bureau or whoever he delegates may choose to bring the public criminal case against the released accused in one of two places:
- His place of residence.
- Or the place where the crime occurred.
The first paragraph protects the stability of the case once filed, and the second gives the Bureau, which according to Article 1 of the Regulations is the Bureau of Investigation and Public Prosecution, a choice of where to bring the case against a released accused according to the public interest.
This article is linked to Article 88 of the Regulations on the statement of the case and supplementary investigation, and to Article 90, which provides that the court hearing a criminal case decides all matters on which judgment in the case depends even if it lacks subject-matter or territorial jurisdiction over them.
To know the competent court in a particular case, it is best to consult a lawyer who specializes in criminal cases.
Practical example
Khalid was detained in Dammam, so the case against him was filed with the Dammam court because it is the place of his detention; he was then released and returned to Riyadh, where he lives. The Dammam court's jurisdiction over the case continues, because the release came after the case was filed with it.
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 89 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
Does the case move to another city if the accused is released?
If the court's territorial jurisdiction was determined by the place of the accused's imprisonment or detention, his release after the case is filed with it does not affect its continued jurisdiction.
Where is the case brought against a released accused?
The head of the Bureau or whoever he delegates may choose between the accused's place of residence or the place where the crime occurred, as public interest requires, subject to the first paragraph of the article.
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 87
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.
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
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.