Article 123 of the Saudi Criminal Procedure Law
المادة 123 من نظام الإجراءات الجزائية · الفصل التاسع: الإفراج المؤقت
The article transfers the power to release or detain the accused to the court to which he is referred, deals with a judgment of lack of jurisdiction, and gives the public prosecutor the right to object to release.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
إذا أحيل المتهم إلى المحكمة يكون الإفراج عنه إذا كان موقوفًا، أو توقيفه إذا كان مفرجًا عنه، من اختصاص المحكمة المحال إليها.
وإذا حكم بعدم الاختصاص تكون المحكمة التي أصدرت الحكم بعدم الاختصاص هي المختصة بالنظر في طلب الإفراج، أو التوقيف، إلى أن ترفع الدعوى إلى المحكمة المختصة.
وفي جميع الأحوال للمدعي العام حق الاعتراض على الإفراج عن المتهم.
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 123 explained in plain English
This article specifies the authority competent for release and detention after the case leaves the investigation stage, and contains three provisions:
- After referral to the court: Releasing the accused if he is detained, or detaining him if he has been released, becomes a matter for the court to which he is referred, not the investigator.
- On a judgment of lack of jurisdiction: The court that issued the judgment of lack of jurisdiction is the one competent to consider the request for release or detention, until the case is brought before the competent court. The accused is thus not left without an authority to consider his situation during this period.
- The right to object: The public prosecutor has in all cases the right to object to the release of the accused.
This article comes after Article 122, which allows the investigator, during the investigation, to issue a new order to arrest or detain the accused after release if the evidence becomes stronger, he breaches what was required of him, or circumstances arise that call for it. Article 123 shows that this power passes to the court as soon as the case is referred.
Anyone with a detained relative whose case is before the court submits the request for release to the court to which the case was referred, and it is advisable to seek the help of a lawyer specialized in criminal cases.
Practical example
The case of the detained accused Majed was referred to the criminal court in Dammam. His lawyer wanted to request his release, so he submitted the request to the court to which the case was referred, not to the investigator, and the public prosecutor may object to the release if it is ordered.
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 123 of the Saudi Criminal Procedure Law
Who has the power to release the accused after his case is referred to the court?
The court to which the case is referred is competent to release him if he is detained, or to detain him if he has been released.
What if the court rules that it lacks jurisdiction?
The court that ruled that it lacks jurisdiction remains competent to consider the request for release or detention until the case is brought before the competent court.
Does the public prosecutor have the right to object to release?
Yes. The article provides that the public prosecutor has in all cases the right to object to the release of the accused.
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.