Article 145 of the Saudi Criminal Procedure Law
المادة 145 من نظام الإجراءات الجزائية · الفصل الثالث: حفظ النظام في الجلسات
Article 145 provides that offenses committed in the session that the court does not hear immediately are heard in accordance with the general rules.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
الجرائم التي تقع في الجلسة ولم تنظرها المحكمة في الحال، يكون نظرها وفقًا للقواعد العامة.
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 145 explained in plain English
This article sets a closing rule for offenses committed in the session: if the court does not hear them immediately, they are heard in accordance with the general rules.
This means that the special powers the preceding articles give the court regarding what happens in the session are tied to immediate hearing. If the court does not use this power immediately, the offense returns to the ordinary track the Law sets for all other offenses, and it no longer remains subject to these special provisions.
This becomes clear by referring to Article 144, which permits the court, in offenses committed in the session that Articles 142 and 143 do not cover, to refer them to the Bureau of Investigation and Public Prosecution, or to rule on them itself in accordance with Sharia requirements after hearing the offender's statements, unless they fall within the jurisdiction of another court, in which case they are referred to it.
The article does not detail what the "general rules" include, and it does not set the period after which the hearing is no longer considered immediate. A person accused of an offense committed in a session that was not heard at the time should seek the help of 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 145 of the Saudi Criminal Procedure Law
What happens to an offense committed in the session if the court does not rule on it immediately?
It is heard in accordance with the general rules.
Is the accusation dropped if the court does not hear the offense immediately?
The article does not provide for it to be dropped. It provides that the offense is heard in accordance with the general rules.
More articles on Criminal Trial Procedures
- Article 1
The article requires the courts to apply Sharia rules and the regulations that do not conflict with the Quran and the Sunnah, and to observe the procedures of the Criminal Procedure Law when hearing cases.
تطبق المحاكم على القضايا المعروضة أمامها أحكام الشريعة الإسلامية، وفقًا لما دل عليه الكتاب والسنة، وما يصدره ولي الأمر من أنظمة لا تتعارض مع الكتاب والسنة، وتتق
- 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 6
The article makes trying the accused the role of the courts under Sharia requirements and the Law's procedures, and allows the court to consider facts the public prosecutor did not allege if they need no investigation.
تتولى المحاكم محاكمة المتهمين فيما يسند إليهم من تهم وفقًا للمقتضى الشرعي وطبقًا للإجراءات المنصوص عليها في هذا النظام. وللمحكمة أن تنظر في وقائع غير مدعى بها م
- Article 7
The article requires the number of judges required by law to attend the sessions hearing a case and the judgment session, and says who is assigned to complete the quorum if the number is not met.
يجب أن يحضر جلسات النظر في القضية وجلسة إصدار الحكم العدد اللازم نظامًا من القضاة؛ فإن لم يتوافر العدد اللازم فيكلف رئيس المحكمة من يكمل النصاب من قضاتها، فإن ت
- Article 12
The article refers the investigation of juveniles and girls, and their trial, to the laws and regulations governing that.
يكون التحقيق مع الأحداث والفتيات ومحاكمتهم وفقًا للأنظمة واللوائح المنظمة لذلك.
- Article 18
The article provides that if the court finds a conflict between the interest of the victim or his heir and that of his representative, the representative is barred from continuing to plead and another representative is appointed.
إذا ظهر للمحكمة تعارض بين مصلحة المجني عليه أو وارثه من بعده وبين مصلحة نائبه؛ فَيُمْنَع النائب من الاستمرار في المرافعة، ويقام نائب آخر.
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.