Article 132 of the Saudi Criminal Procedure Law
المادة 132 من نظام الإجراءات الجزائية · الفصل الأول: الاختصاصات الجزائية
The article gives the court hearing a criminal case jurisdiction to decide all issues on which the judgment in it depends, unless the Law provides otherwise.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تختص المحكمة التي تنظر الدعوى الجزائية بالفصل في جميع المسائل التي يتوقف عليها الحكم في الدعوى الجزائية المرفوعة أمامها، إلا إذا نص النظام على خلاف ذلك.
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 132 explained in plain English
This article states a rule that prevents criminal cases from being held up: the court hearing the criminal case has jurisdiction to decide all issues on which the judgment in the case brought before it depends.
This means that if the court needs, before it rules, to decide an issue without which the case cannot be decided, it decides it itself, and as a rule it need not wait for another court.
This rule is subject to an express restriction: "unless the Law provides otherwise." An example is what the following Article 133 provides: if the judgment in the criminal case depends on the outcome of another criminal case, the case must be stayed until the other case is decided. This is a case in which the Law provides for a stay instead of direct decision.
The article does not list the issues on which a judgment may depend, nor state all the cases in which the Law provides otherwise than this rule. Anyone in whose case an issue of this kind is raised would do well to consult a lawyer specialized in criminal cases.
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 132 of the Saudi Criminal Procedure Law
Does the criminal court decide issues connected with the case?
Yes. It has jurisdiction to decide all issues on which the judgment in the criminal case brought before it depends, unless the Law provides otherwise.
What is the exception to this rule?
What the Law provides otherwise, including Article 133, which requires the case to be stayed if the judgment depends on the outcome of another criminal case.
More articles on Dismissing the Case and Criminal Jurisdiction
- Article 5
The article bars referring a case already brought before a court to another court or body, or anyone withdrawing it, before judgment, and treats the case as brought from the date it is registered at the court.
إذا رفعت قضية إلى محكمة فلا تجوز إحالتها إلى محكمة أو جهة أخرى ولا يحق لأحد سحبها منها قبل الحكم فيها، وتعد القضية مرفوعة من تاريخ قيدها في المحكمة.
- Article 63
If the investigator sees no basis to proceed with the case, he may recommend that the papers be archived, and the archiving order is issued by the head of the department to which he belongs.
للمحقق إذا رأى أن لا وجه للسير في الدعوى أن يوصي بحفظ الأوراق، ولرئيس الدائرة التي يتبعها المحقق الأمر بحفظها.
- Article 64
If an order archiving the case is issued, the investigator must notify the victim and the private claimant, and if one of them has died, all his heirs at the deceased's place of residence.
إذا صدر أمر بالحفظ وجب على المحقق إبلاغ المجني عليه والمدعي بالحق الخاص، وفي حال وفاة أحدهما يكون الإبلاغ لورثته جميعهم في مكان إقامة المتوفى.
- Article 65
The accused may use an agent or lawyer to attend the investigation; investigation is required in all major crimes, and for other crimes the investigator may investigate or bring the case directly to court.
للمتهم حق الاستعانة بوكيل أو محام لحضور التحقيق. ويجب على المحقق أن يقوم بالتحقيق في جميع الجرائم الكبيرة وفقًا لما هو منصوص عليه في هذا النظام. وله في غير هذه
- Article 91
The article requires a decision on how seized items are to be disposed of when an order is made to close the case, and also when judgment is given if their return is claimed before the court.
يجب - عند صدور أمر بحفظ الدعوى - أن يُفْصَل في كيفية التصرف في الأشياء المضبوطة، وكذلك الحال عند الحكم في الدعوى إذا حصلت المطالبة بردها أمام المحكمة.
- Article 93
The article allows the court within whose jurisdiction the place of the investigation falls to refer the parties to litigation before the competent court, with the seized items possibly placed under guard or other precautionary measures taken.
للمحكمة التي يقع في دائرتها مكان التحقيق أن تأمر بإحالة الخصوم للتقاضي أمام المحكمة المختصة إذا رأت موجبًا لذلك. وفي هذه الحال يجوز وضع الأشياء المضبوطة تحت الح
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.