Article 149 of the Saudi Criminal Procedure Law
المادة 149 من نظام الإجراءات الجزائية · الفصل الخامس: الادعاء بالحق الخاص
Article 149 states against whom the private right claim is brought: the accused if of full capacity, or the guardian or legal custodian if not, and the court must appoint a guardian if there is none.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
ترفع دعوى الحق الخاص على المتهم إذا كان أهلًا، وعلى الولي أو الوصي إذا كان المتهم ناقص الأهلية. فإن لم يكن له ولي أو وصي، وجب على المحكمة المرفوعة أمامها الدعوى الجزائية أن تقيم عليه وليًا.
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 149 explained in plain English
This article answers the question: against whom is the private right claim brought? It distinguishes between two cases:
- An accused of full legal capacity: the claim is brought against the accused directly.
- An accused who lacks full legal capacity: the claim is brought against the accused's guardian or legal custodian.
If the accused lacks full legal capacity and has no guardian or legal custodian, the court before which the criminal case is brought must appoint a guardian for the accused.
The aim is that the case has a party representing the accused who lacks full legal capacity, so the harmed person's right to claim the private right is not held up for lack of someone against whom to bring the claim. The article does not define lack of full legal capacity and does not explain how the guardian is chosen.
This article matches Article 148, which provides a similar rule on the side of a harmed person who lacks full legal capacity and has no guardian or legal custodian, requiring the court to appoint a guardian to claim the private right. It is followed by Article 150, which requires the claimant of the private right to designate a place in the town where the court is located.
A person who wishes to claim a private right against a minor accused should seek the help of a lawyer specialized in criminal cases.
Practical example
A juvenile who lacks full legal capacity damaged the property of a shop in Riyadh, and the shop owner wants to claim his private right. His claim is brought against the juvenile's guardian or legal custodian. If the juvenile has no guardian or legal custodian, the court must appoint a guardian for him.
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 149 of the Saudi Criminal Procedure Law
Against whom is the private right claim brought if the accused is a minor?
It is brought against the accused's guardian or legal custodian if the accused lacks full legal capacity.
What if an accused who lacks full legal capacity has no guardian or legal custodian?
The court before which the criminal case is brought must appoint a guardian for the accused.
Against whom is the claim brought if the accused is a sane adult?
The article provides that the claim is brought against the accused if the accused has full legal capacity.
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.