Article 94 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
المادة 94 من اللائحة التنفيذية لنظام الإجراءات الجزائية · الفصل الأول: إبلاغ الخصوم
The article leaves it to the competent judicial circuit to assess the necessity that allows shortening the time to appear, and the length of the extension the accused requests to prepare a defense.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يعود إلى الدائرة القضائية المختصة بنظر الدعوى تقدير الضرورة التي تجيز إنقاص موعد الحضور في الدعوى الجزائية وتقدير مدة المهلة التي يطلب المتهم منحه إياها لإعداد دفاعه.
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 94 explained in plain English
This article of the Regulations is short, but it touches an important right of the accused: enough time to prepare. It gives the judicial circuit competent to hear the case two matters:
- Assessing the necessity that allows shortening the time to appear in a criminal case, meaning bringing the hearing date forward from the usual date.
- Assessing the length of the extension that the accused requests to prepare a defense.
This means the Regulations set no fixed standard for necessity and no set length for the extension, and leave the matter to the circuit's assessment according to the circumstances of each case. If the accused asks for an extension, it is the circuit that decides how much to grant.
The article does not state the original appearance periods or the limits of shortening them; for those, refer to the Criminal Procedure Law itself.
This strikes a balance between speed in deciding criminal cases and the accused's right to defend himself.
If you have a pending case and need advice on your specific situation, it is best to consult a lawyer who specializes in criminal cases.
Practical example
Khalid was notified of his hearing date in a criminal case, and at the first hearing he asked for an extension so he could prepare his defense and gather his documents. The circuit assessed the appropriate length of the extension and set a new hearing date.
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 94 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
Does the accused have the right to ask for an extension to prepare a defense?
Yes. Article 94 of the Implementing Regulations leaves the assessment of the length of the extension the accused requests to the judicial circuit hearing the case.
Who decides to shorten the time to appear in a criminal case?
The judicial circuit competent to hear the case assesses the necessity that allows shortening the time to appear.
How long is the extension granted to the accused?
The article does not set a specific length and leaves its assessment to the judicial circuit.
More articles on Criminal Trial Procedures
- Article 7
The article explains that the acts mentioned in Article 20 of the Law are those occurring outside the session, and sets referral to a larger number of judges when needed and hearing them in a separate record.
1- يُقصد بالأفعال المشار إليها في المادة (العشرين) من النظام؛ ما كان خارج الجلسة، وتطبق فيما كان داخلها أحكام الفصل (الثالث) من الباب (السادس) من النظام وأحكام
- Article 91
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.
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
- Article 92
This article of the Regulations provides that if a court or circuit finds it lacks jurisdiction it refers the case by decision to the competent one, and if the second also finds it lacks jurisdiction the matter goes to the Supreme Court to designate the competent one.
إذا رأت محكمة أو دائرة عدم اختصاصها في دعوى مرفوعة إليها وأنها من اختصاص محكمة أو دائرة أخرى، فتصدر قراراً بذلك، وتحيلها إلى المحكمة أو الدائرة الأخرى ، فإن رأت
- Article 93
This article of the Regulations requires that if a case is brought before two courts or circuits and each decides it has jurisdiction, they stop hearing it and send the papers to the Supreme Court to designate the competent one.
إذا رفعت دعوى إلى محكمتين أو دائرتين وقررت كل منهما اختصاصها؛ فتصدر كل منهما قراراً بذلك، ويجب عليهما إيقاف نظر الدعوى ورفع الأوراق إلى المحكمة العليا عن طريق ا
- Article 95
If the accused's place of residence cannot be found after adequate searching, the bailiff draws up a detailed report, and the bailiffs' department hands a copy of the notice to the emirate, governorate or center responsible for the place of notification.
إذا تعذرت معرفة مكان إقامة المتهم بعد البحث الكافي عنه وبعد الاستعانة بالجهات الأخرى ذات العلاقة - لتبليغه بالحضور أمام المحكمة وفق ما قضت به المادة (السابعة وا
- Article 98
The article sets that the accused may not send an agent in his place in serious-crime cases, and regulates the effect of his absence, acceptance of his excuse, and the related detention order.
1- الأحوال التي لا يسوغ للمتهم فيها إرسال وكيل عنه للحضور أمام المحكمة - وفقاً للمادة (الأربعين بعد المائة) من النظام - هي قضايا الجرائم الكبيرة. 2 - إذا رصدت د
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.