Article 119 of the Saudi Criminal Procedure Law

المادة 119 من نظام الإجراءات الجزائية · الفصل الثامن: أمر التوقيف

The article allows the investigator, if the interest of the investigation requires it, to order that the accused not contact other prisoners or detainees and that no one visit him for up to 60 days, without prejudice to his right to contact his agent or lawyer.

Official text (Arabic)

This article has not been amended since the law was issued.

للمحقق - في كل الأحوال - أن يأمر بعدم اتصال المتهم بغيره من المسجونين، أو الموقوفين، وألا يزوره أحد لمدة لا تزيد على (ستين) يومًا إذا اقتضت مصلحة التحقيق ذلك، دون الإخلال بحق المتهم في الاتصال بوكيله أو محاميه.

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 119 explained in plain English

This article gives the investigator the power to isolate the accused and prevent visits to him temporarily, but it surrounds it with clear restrictions:

Content of the order: In all cases the investigator may order:

That the accused not contact other prisoners or detainees.
And that no one visit him.

Restrictions:

Period: it does not exceed sixty days.
Reason: the interest of the investigation requires it.
A right that is not affected: this is without prejudice to the accused's right to contact his agent or lawyer. Even with the ban on visits and on contact with others, the accused retains the right to contact his agent or lawyer.

The order is discretionary for the investigator, who uses it if the interest of the investigation requires it, and it may not exceed the period specified in the text.

This article is connected to Article 118, which does not allow the head of a prison or detention facility to permit any public authority officer to contact the detainee except with written permission from the investigator, with that recorded in the special register. And to Article 120, which allows the investigator to release the accused if he finds that his detention has no justification, that there is no harm to the investigation from releasing him, and that he is not feared to flee or hide, on condition that he undertakes to appear if asked.

Anyone whose detained relative has been denied visits would do best to consult a lawyer specialized in criminal cases, since the accused retains the right to contact his lawyer.

Practical example

In a case in Jeddah, the investigator ordered that no one visit the accused Saad and that he not contact other detainees, in the interest of the investigation. Under this article that may not exceed sixty days, and Saad retains the right to contact his lawyer throughout this period.

Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.

How we write and review content

A question about Article 119 of Criminal Procedure Law?

Describe what happened and specialist lawyers answer. You can write in English.