Article 95 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
المادة 95 من اللائحة التنفيذية لنظام الإجراءات الجزائية · الفصل الأول: إبلاغ الخصوم
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 والثلاثون بعد المائة) من النظام - فعلى المُحضِّر تحرير محضر مفصل بذلك يودعه مع أصل التبليغ لدى إدارة المُحضِّرين بالمحكمة، وعليها تسليم صورة التبليغ مع المحضر إلى الجهة التابع لها المكان المعتبر للتبليغ من إمارة أو محافظة أو مركز - بحسب الأحوال - بعد أخذ توقيعها على أصل التبليغ، مع مراعاة ما جاء في المادة (العشرين) من نظام المرافعات الشرعية.
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 95 explained in plain English
This article of the Regulations explains what is done when the accused is to be notified to appear before the court, as provided in Article 137 of the Criminal Procedure Law, and his place of residence is unknown.
- Starting condition: it must be impossible to find the place of residence after adequate searching for it and after seeking the help of other relevant authorities.
- The bailiff draws up a detailed report to that effect and lodges it, with the original notice, with the court's bailiffs' department.
- The bailiffs' department hands a copy of the notice, with the report, to the authority responsible for the place considered for notification: an emirate, a governorate or a center, as the case may be.
- The bailiffs' department obtains that authority's signature on the original notice.
The article provides that what is stated in Article 20 of the Law of Sharia Procedure is to be observed, so refer to it for this type of notification. The purpose is to document the efforts made to reach the accused before resorting to this route.
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
A hearing date was issued for an accused in a criminal case in Riyadh, and the bailiff searched for his place of residence and sought help from the relevant authorities without result. He drew up a detailed report and lodged it with the original notice at the bailiffs' department, which handed a copy of the notice and the report to the governorate responsible for the place considered for notification, after obtaining its signature on the original.
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 95 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
How is the accused notified if his place of residence is unknown?
After adequate searching and seeking help from the relevant authorities, the bailiff draws up a detailed report, and the bailiffs' department hands a copy of the notice with the report to the emirate, governorate or center responsible for the place considered for notification.
Is it enough that the accused is not at his address to use this procedure?
The article requires that the place of residence be impossible to find after adequate searching and after seeking the help of other relevant authorities.
What is the role of the emirate or governorate in the notification?
It receives a copy of the notice with the report, and signs the original notice.
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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.