Article 91 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
المادة 91 من اللائحة التنفيذية لنظام الإجراءات الجزائية · الفصل الأول: الاختصاصات الجزائية
This article of the Regulations leaves it to the court hearing the case to assess whether judgment in a criminal case depends on the result of another criminal case, and requires it, if it stays the case, to inform the other court.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- يُرجع في تقدير توقف الحكم في الدعوى الجزائية على نتيجة الفصل في دعوى جزائية أخرى؛ إلى المحكمة التي تنظر الدعوى الجزائية.
2 - إذا قررت المحكمة وقف دعوى منظورة أمامها يتوقف الفصل فيها على نتيجة الفصل في دعوى جزائية أخرى؛ فتحيط المحكمة التي تنظر الدعوى الجزائية الأخرى بذلك.
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 91 explained in plain English
This article of the Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law deals with a situation in which two criminal cases are connected, so that judgment cannot be given in one before the result of the other is known.
- Who assesses the connection: The court hearing the criminal case decides whether judgment in it really depends on the result of deciding another criminal case.
- Informing the other court: If the court decides to stay the case before it for this reason, it must inform the court hearing the other case of the stay decision.
This article comes after Article 90 of the Regulations, which provides that the court hearing a criminal case decides all matters on which judgment depends even if it lacks subject-matter or territorial jurisdiction over them. Article 91 deals with a special case, where a case is connected with another criminal case, leaving the assessment of that to the court itself and ensuring coordination between the two courts.
The article does not specify a period for the stay or a particular form for informing the other court; it is limited to assigning the assessment to the court and requiring the other court to be notified.
If you have a case before a court and need advice on your specific situation, it is best to consult a lawyer who specializes in criminal cases.
Practical example
Ahmed was referred to a criminal court in Riyadh on a charge of using a forged document, while the charge of forging that same document was being heard in another case. The court saw that its judgment depends on the result of the other case, so it stayed the case, then informed the court hearing the forgery case of its decision.
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 91 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
Who decides that a criminal case depends on another case?
The court hearing the criminal case assesses that, according to Article 91 of the Regulations.
Is the other court informed that the case is stayed?
Yes, if the court decides to stay the case for this reason, it must inform the court hearing the other criminal case.
Does the article set a period for staying the case?
No, the article mentions no period for the stay, and is limited to assigning the assessment to the court hearing the case.
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.