Article 99 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
المادة 99 من اللائحة التنفيذية لنظام الإجراءات الجزائية · الفصل الثاني: حضور الخصوم
When judging the accused who are present, the court states the names of the convicted who are present and those absent, and continues hearing the case against the absent person when he appears, in the same record.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- يتعين على المحكمة - عند إصدار الحكم على المتهمين الحاضرين وفقاً للمادة (الحادية والأربعين بعد المائة) من النظام - أن تنص على أسماء المحكوم عليهم الحاضرين والمتهمين الغائبين، وعلى أنها ستواصل نظر الدعوى في مواجهة الغائبين عند حضورهم.
2 - يكون استكمال نظر الدعوى على الغائب - إذا حضر - في ضبط الدعوى نفسها.
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 99 explained in plain English
This article of the Regulations deals with cases involving several accused where some attend and others are absent, and the court issues judgment on those present in accordance with Article 141 of the Criminal Procedure Law.
- The judgment must state the names of the convicted who are present.
- And the names of the absent accused.
- And that the court will continue hearing the case against the absent when they appear.
- If the absent person appears, continuing to hear the case against him takes place in the same case record, not in a new case.
The benefit is that the absence of one accused does not delay deciding the rights of those present, while the case is not closed for the absent person but stays open in the same file until he appears. The article does not state what follows if the absence continues, so refer to the Law for that.
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 court in Riyadh heard a theft case with three accused, two of whom attended and one was absent. The court ruled on those present, and stated in the judgment their names and the name of the absent person, and that it would continue hearing the case against him when he appeared. When he later appeared, the case against him was completed in the same 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 99 of the Saudi Implementing Regulations of the Criminal Procedure Law
Does the court rule on some accused if others are absent?
Article 99 of the Implementing Regulations regulates judging the accused who are present in accordance with Article 141 of the Law, stating the names of those present and those absent in the judgment.
What happens to the absent accused if he appears later?
The hearing of the case against him is completed in the same case record.
What must the judgment contain in this case?
The names of the convicted who are present and the absent accused, and a statement that the court will continue hearing the case against the absent when they appear.
More articles on Criminal Trial Procedures
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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
- 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 94
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.
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
- 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
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.