Article 9 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
المادة 9 من اللائحة التنفيذية لنظام الإجراءات الجزائية · الفصل الأول: رفع الدعوى الجزائية
The article provides that the private criminal case is considered brought from the date the statement of claim submitted by the claimant is registered at the court.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تعد القضية مرفوعة في الدعوى الجزائية الخاصة من تاريخ قيد صحيفة الدعوى المقدمة من المدعي في المحكمة.
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 9 explained in plain English
This article of the Regulations settles a practical question: when is the private criminal case considered brought?
The answer is that it is considered brought from the date the statement of claim submitted by the claimant is registered at the court. What counts is the date of registration at the court, not the date the crime occurred or the date the statement was prepared.
The private criminal case, as Article 3 of the Regulations explains, is the case that includes a private right and a public right and is brought by the holder of the private right. Fixing the date it is brought is important because procedural effects may follow from that date, but this article does not mention those effects; it is limited to fixing the moment at which the case is considered brought.
This means in practice that the claimant should keep what proves the date his statement was registered at the court, because it is the date adopted for bringing his case. It is followed by Article 10, which deals with the lapse of the public criminal case before it is brought to court.
Anyone who wants to know the effect of the date of bringing the case on his case may consult a lawyer specializing in criminal cases.
Practical example
Sarah was abused and prepared a statement of claim for a private criminal case, then registered it at the court a week later. Her case is considered brought from the date the statement was registered at the court, not from the date it was prepared.
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 9 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
When is the private criminal case considered brought?
From the date the statement of claim submitted by the claimant is registered at the court.
Does the date the statement of claim was written count?
No. The article makes what counts the date the statement is registered at the court.
More articles on Criminal Case and Its Lapse
- Article 2
The article requires the Authority to notify the court in writing of the names of the authorized public prosecutors, and explains that conducting the public case includes presenting evidence, producing it, and bearing the burden of proof.
1- تبعث الهيئة كتاباً إلى المحكمة بأسماء المدعين العامين المفوضين بإقامة الدعوى الجزائية العامة أمامها. 2 - مباشرة الدعوى الجزائية العامة أمام المحاكم المختصة ت
- Article 3
The article explains that the case meant in Article 16 of the Law is the private criminal case, and governs how the defendant and the public prosecutor are notified in it.
1- الدعوى الجزائية المشار إليها في المادة (السادسة عشرة) من النظام هي الدعوى الجزائية الخاصة التي تشتمل على حق خاص وحق عام. 2 - لا يبلغ المدعى عليه في الدعوى ال
- Article 4
The article defines crimes requiring a private right of individuals as those whose harm is confined to the victim, and explains the effect of a complaint where there are several victims or accused.
1- الجرائم الواجب فيها حق خاص للأفراد المشار إليها في المادة (السابعة عشرة) من النظام هي ما اقتصر الضرر فيها على المجني عليه. 2 - إذا كان هناك أكثر من مجني عليه
- Article 5
The article explains that the victim and heir meant in Article 18 of the Law are those with limited or no legal capacity, and requires recording what the court does when their interest conflicts with their representative's.
1- يُقصـد بالمجني عليه ووارثه المشار إليهما في المـادة (الثامنة عشرة) من النظام؛ من كان ناقص الأهليـة أو فاقدهـا. 2 - يُدون في ضبط الدعوى ما تجريه المحكمة التي
- Article 6
The article explains that the case mentioned in Article 19 of the Law is the public case, and sets how the court notifies whoever brought it and his duty to inform the court of what he did.
1- الدعوى المشار إليها في المادة (التاسعة عشرة) من النظام هي الدعوى الجزائية العامة. 2 - يكون إبلاغ المحكمة لمن رفع الدعوى - في الحالتين المنصوص عليهما في الماد
- Article 8
The article explains the in-law relationship and the enmity that bar a member of the Authority from handling a case, and lets any opponent request disqualification of the investigator before or during the investigation.
1- لا يشترط لقيام صلة المصاهرة المنصوص عليها في الفقرة (1) من المادة (الحادية والعشرين) من النظام؛ أن تكون رابطة الزوجية قائمة. 2 - العداوة التي تمنع عضو الهيئة
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.