Article 148 of the Saudi Criminal Procedure Law
المادة 148 من نظام الإجراءات الجزائية · الفصل الخامس: الادعاء بالحق الخاص
Article 148 requires the criminal court to appoint a guardian for a harmed person who lacks full legal capacity and has no guardian or legal custodian, so that the guardian can claim the private right.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
إذا كان من لحقه ضرر من الجريمة ناقص الأهلية ولم يكن له ولي أو وصي، وجب على المحكمة المرفوعة أمامها الدعوى الجزائية أن تقيم عليه وليًا يطالب بحقه الخاص.
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 148 explained in plain English
This article protects a harmed person who lacks full legal capacity, so that the private right is not lost because no one is available to claim it. The conditions for applying it are:
- the person harmed by the offense lacks full legal capacity; and
- the person has no guardian or legal custodian.
If both conditions are met, the court before which the criminal case is brought must appoint a guardian for the person to claim the private right. The rule here is mandatory for the court, not discretionary.
The article does not define lack of full legal capacity, and does not explain how the guardian the court appoints is chosen, so details that do not appear in it should not be assumed.
This article is connected to Article 147, which gives a person harmed by an offense, and their heir after them, the right to claim the private right before the court hearing the public criminal case at any stage of the case. It is matched by Article 149, which provides a similar rule on the side of an accused who lacks full legal capacity and has no guardian or legal custodian. The Law thus ensures representation for a person lacking full legal capacity, whether harmed or accused.
A person whose minor relative was harmed by an offense should seek the help of a lawyer specialized in criminal cases.
Practical example
An orphaned child in Medina was assaulted and had no guardian or legal custodian. When the criminal case is heard, the court must appoint a guardian for the child to claim the child's private right.
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 148 of the Saudi Criminal Procedure Law
Who claims the right of a minor victim who has no guardian?
The court before which the criminal case is brought must appoint a guardian for the minor, to claim the private right.
Is appointing the guardian optional for the court?
No. The text says the court must do so. It is mandatory whenever the harmed person lacks full legal capacity and has no guardian or legal custodian.
More articles on Private Right and Compensation
- Article 16
The article gives the victim or whoever acts for him, and his heir after him, the right to bring the criminal case in cases involving a private right and pursue it, with the court notifying the public prosecutor to attend.
للمجني عليه - أو مَنْ ينوب عنه - ولوارثه من بعده، حق رفع الدعوى الجزائية في جميع القضايا التي يتعلق بها حق خاص، ومباشرة هذه الدعوى أمام المحكمة المختصة. وعلى ال
- Article 17
The article does not allow bringing the criminal case or investigating private-right crimes except upon a complaint from the victim, his representative or his heir, unless the Bureau of Investigation and Public Prosecution sees a public interest.
لا تجوز إقامة الدعوى الجزائية أو إجراء التحقيق في الجرائم الواجب فيها حق خاص للأفراد إلا بناءً على شكوى من المجني عليه، أو ممَنْ ينوب عنه، أو وارثه من بعده إلى
- 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.
- Article 23
The article sets two situations in which the private criminal action ends, a final judgment and a pardon by the victim or his heir, and states that the pardon does not prevent the public-right action from continuing.
تنقضي الدعوى الجزائية الخاصة في إحدى الحالتين الآتيتين: 1 - صدور حكم نهائي. 2 - عفو المجني عليه أو وارثه. ولا يمنع عفو المجني عليه أو وارثه من الاستمرار في دعوى
- Article 29
The article treats a complaint by a person harmed by the crime as a claim for his private right unless he expressly states before the investigator that he waives it, and requires the waiver to be recorded and witnessed, with court ratification for retaliation and the hadd of defamation.
تعد الشكوى المقدمة ممَّن أصابه ضرر بسبب الجريمة مطالبة بحقه الخاص، إلا إذا قرر صراحة أمام المحقق نزوله عن حقه. وعلى المحقق إثبات ذلك في المحضر والإشهاد عليه، مع
- 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.
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.