Article 113 of the Saudi Criminal Procedure Law
المادة 113 من نظام الإجراءات الجزائية · الفصل الثامن: أمر التوقيف
The article requires the investigator to issue an order detaining the accused for no more than five days from the date of arrest, if the evidence against him in a serious crime is sufficient or the interest of the investigation requires his detention.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
إذا تبين بعد استجواب المتهم، أو في حال هربه، أن الأدلة كافية ضده في جريمة كبيرة، أو كانت مصلحة التحقيق تستوجب توقيفه؛ فعلى المحقق إصدار أمر بتوقيفه مدة لا تزيد على خمسة أيام من تاريخ القبض عليه.
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 113 explained in plain English
This article specifies when the investigator must issue the detention order, and its initial period.
Timing: This is after interrogating the accused, or in the event of his flight.
The two cases requiring detention:
- It appears that the evidence against him is sufficient in a serious crime.
- Or the interest of the investigation requires his detention.
Period: The investigator issues an order for his detention for a period not exceeding five days from the date of his arrest. It should be noted that the period is counted from the date of arrest, not from the date the detention order is issued.
This article is connected to Article 112, which leaves the determination of what counts as the serious crimes requiring detention to the Attorney General, after agreement with the Ministry of Interior and the Presidency of State Security, with publication in the Official Gazette.
It is also connected to Article 114, which provides that detention ends after five days, unless the investigator sees fit to extend it, in which case he presents the papers before it expires to the head of the branch of the Bureau of Investigation and Public Prosecution or his delegate, who issues an order for release or for extension for periods whose total does not exceed forty days from the date of arrest, with a longer extension possible as that article details.
Anyone whose relative has been detained would do best to consult a lawyer specialized in criminal cases to learn the status of the detention and the periods connected with it.
Practical example
Omar was arrested in Riyadh on Sunday and interrogated, and the investigator found that the evidence against him was sufficient in a serious crime. Under this article the investigator must issue an order for his detention for a period not exceeding five days, counted from the day he was arrested.
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 113 of the Saudi Criminal Procedure Law
When must the investigator detain the accused?
If it appears after interrogating him or in the event of his flight that the evidence against him is sufficient in a serious crime, or the interest of the investigation requires his detention.
How long is the first detention order?
It does not exceed five days from the date of the accused's arrest.
From when is the detention period counted?
The article provides that the five-day period is counted from the date of the accused's arrest.
More articles on Detention and Provisional Release
- Article 103
The article allows the investigator, in all cases, to decide that the person sought for investigation must appear, or to issue an order for his arrest if the circumstances of the investigation require it.
للمحقق في جميع القضايا أن يقرر - بحسب الأحوال - حضور الشخص المطلوب التحقيق معه، أو يصدر أمرًا بالقبض عليه إذا كانت ظروف التحقيق تستلزم ذلك.
- Article 104
The article specifies the particulars required in an order to appear, those added in an arrest and bringing-in order, and those further added in a detention order.
يجب أن يشمل كل أمر بالحضور اسم الشخص المطلوب رباعيًا، وجنسيته، ومهنته أو وظيفته، ومكان إقامته، وتاريخ الأمر، وساعة الحضور وتاريخه، واسم المحقق وتوقيعه، والختم ا
- Article 105
The article provides that an order to appear is served by a bailiff or a public authority officer, with a copy delivered to the person if found, and otherwise to a member of his family of full legal capacity who lives with him.
يبلغ الأمر بالحضور إلى الشخص المطلوب التحقيق معه بوساطة أحد المحضرين أو رجال السلطة العامة، وتسلم إليه صورة منه إن وجد، وإلا فتسلم إلى أحد أفراد أسرته الكامل ال
- Article 106
The article provides that the orders issued by the investigator are enforceable throughout the Kingdom.
تكون الأوامر التي يصدرها المحقق نافذة في جميع أنحاء المملكة.
- Article 107
The article allows the investigator to issue an order to arrest and bring in the accused if he does not appear after being formally summoned without an acceptable excuse, if he is feared to flee, or if the crime is in flagrante delicto, even where detention is not permitted.
إذا لم يحضر المتهم - بعد تكليفه بالحضور رسميًا - من غير عذر مقبول، أو إذا خيف هربه، أو كانت الجريمة في حال تلبس؛ جاز للمحقق أن يصدر أمرًا بالقبض عليه وإحضاره ول
- Article 108
The article requires an accused with no known place of residence to designate a place acceptable to the investigator, failing which the investigator may issue an order for his detention.
إذا لم يكن للمتهم مكان إقامة معروف فعليه أن يعين مكانًا يقبله المحقق، وإلا جاز للمحقق أن يصدر أمرًا بتوقيفه.
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.