Article 96 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
المادة 96 من اللائحة التنفيذية لنظام الإجراءات الجزائية · الفصل الثاني: حضور الخصوم
The article regulates an accused's request in serious crimes for a lawyer appointed at state expense: the contents of the request, the circuit's review, its final decision, and the consequences of refusal or acceptance.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- إذا رغب المتهم في الجرائم الكبيرة ندبَ محامٍ للدفاع عنه على نفقة الدولة - استناداً إلى المادة (التاسعة والثلاثين بعد المائة) من النظام - فيُقدِّم لإدارة المحكمة المرفوعة أمامها الدعوى طلباً كتابياً بذلك، يشتمل على اسمه كاملاً ورقم هويته ورقم قيد الدعوى المقامة ضده، وتاريخه، ونوع التهمة المسندة إليه، ويفصح في الطلب عن مصادر دخله ومقداره، ويُصَرِّح فيه بعدم قدرته المالية على الاستعانة بمحامٍ، وأنه إن ثبتت قدرته المالية فللدولة الرجوع عليه بما تدفعه من أتعاب للمحامي، ويقيد الطلب ويحال فوراً إلى الدائرة القضائية المختصة بنظر الدعوى.
2 - تقوم الدائرة بدراسة طلب المتهم ندب محام للدفاع عنهٍ، والتحقق من عدم قدرته على الاستعانة بمحام، ولها أن تجري ما تشاء من التحريات اللازمة عن ملاءته، وعلى جميع الجهات ذات العلاقة التعاون معها في ذلك.
3 - تُصدر الدائرة قرارها بقبول طلب المتهم ندب محام، أو برفضه، ويكون قرارها في الحالتين مسبباً ونهائياً، ويكتفى بضبطه في ضبط الدعوى.
4 - إذا رفضت الدائرة طلب الندب فيبلغ المتهم بذلك مشافهة، وتسير الدائرة في الدعوى بمواجهته مباشرة، مع عدم الإخلال بحقه في الاستعانة بمن يدافع عنه على نفقته.
5 - يكون قرار الدائرة بالندب دون تسمية المحامي، وتبعث كتاباً للوزارة تحدد فيه موعد الجلسة لتسمية محام، فإن اعتذر المحامي بعد تسميته كلفت الوزارة غيره.
6 - إذا حضر المحامي مع المتهم في الجلسة فيدون توكيله في ضبط الدعوى، فإن امتنع المتهم عن التوكيل دون سبب تقبله الدائرة، سقط حقه في طلب ندب محام.
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 96 explained in plain English
This article of the Regulations details the procedures for the accused's right, in serious crimes (which under Article 1 of the Regulations are crimes requiring detention under Article 112 of the Law), to request a lawyer to defend him at state expense, based on Article 139 of the Criminal Procedure Law.
- The request: it is submitted in writing to the administration of the court before which the case is brought, and includes the full name, ID number, case registration number and date, and type of charge, together with disclosure of income sources and amount, a statement of financial inability to hire a lawyer, and an acknowledgment that the State may recover the lawyer's fees from him if his ability is proven. The request is registered and referred immediately to the competent circuit.
- Review: the circuit verifies his inability, and may make the necessary inquiries about his means; the relevant authorities must cooperate with it.
- The decision: acceptance or refusal, which is reasoned and final, and it suffices to record it in the case record.
- On refusal: the accused is informed orally, and the circuit proceeds with the case in his presence, while his right to engage a lawyer at his own expense remains.
- On acceptance: the decision is issued without naming the lawyer, and the circuit writes to the Ministry of Justice, stating the hearing date, to name a lawyer; if the named lawyer apologizes, the Ministry assigns another.
- If the lawyer attends with the accused, his appointment is recorded in the record; if the accused refuses to appoint him without a reason the circuit accepts, his right to request an appointed lawyer lapses.
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
Saeed was accused in a serious-crime case and has no income sufficient to hire a lawyer, so he submitted a written request to the court administration with his details, his income sources and his acknowledgment of inability. The circuit inquired about his means and accepted the request, and wrote to the Ministry of Justice to name a lawyer before the hearing date; at the hearing, Saeed's appointment of the lawyer was recorded in the case record.
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 96 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
Is an accused entitled to a lawyer at state expense?
Article 96 of the Implementing Regulations regulates the accused's request, in serious crimes, for a lawyer appointed at state expense if he is financially unable to engage one.
What should the request for an appointed lawyer contain?
The full name, ID number, case registration number and date, type of charge, income sources and amount, a statement of financial inability, and an acknowledgment of the State's right to recover from him if his ability is proven.
Can a refusal of the request for an appointed lawyer be challenged?
The article states that the circuit's decision, acceptance or refusal, is reasoned and final, and the accused keeps the right to engage someone to defend him at his own expense.
What if the accused refuses to appoint the assigned lawyer?
If he refuses to appoint him without a reason the circuit accepts, his right to request an appointed lawyer lapses.
More articles on Appointing a Lawyer at State Expense
- Article 59
The article makes the investigator's refraining from seizing correspondence between the accused and his agent or lawyer, and papers he hands them, conditional on its relating to carrying out the task of defending him in the case.
يشترط لامتناع المحقق - وفقاً للمادة (الرابعة والثمانين) من النظام - من ضبط المراسلات المتبادلة بين المتهم ووكيله أو محاميه وما يسلمه المتهم لأي منهما من أوراق أ
- Article 71
This article of the Regulations allows recording the accused's appointment of his lawyer for the investigation stage, requires investigating a legal person through its legal representative, and requires a specialist's presence in domestic violence cases where needed.
1- للمحقق - عند الاقتضاء - أن يثبت في محضر خاص توكيل المتهم لمحاميه لمرحلة التحقيق. 2 - إذا طال التحقيق شخصية اعتبارية، فيجرى مع ممثلها النظامي. 3- يكون سماع أق
- Article 97
The appointed lawyer receives a certificate for each hearing he attends so his fees can be paid by the Ministry of Justice, and he may not take any payment from the accused.
1- تسلم الدائرة القضائية للمحامي المندوب شهادةً بكل جلسة حضرها للدفاع عن المتهم لتقديمها إلى الوزارة لصرف أتعابه وفق التقدير الذي حددته الوزارة قبل الترافع. 2 -
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.