Article 167 of the Saudi Criminal Procedure Law
المادة 167 من نظام الإجراءات الجزائية · الفصل السادس: إجراءات الجلسة ونظامها
Article 167 provides that the statements of a witness who has not reached majority, or who is subject to an impediment, are not testimony though they may be heard, and regulates using someone who can communicate with a sick or severely disabled witness.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
إذا كان الشاهد غير بالغ، أو كان فيه ما يمنع من قبول شهادته، فلا تعد أقواله شهادة. ولكن للمحكمة إذا وجدت أن في سماعها فائدة أن تسمعها. وإذا كان الشاهد مصابًا بمرض، أو بعاهة جسيمة مما تجعل تفاهم القاضي معه غير ممكن، فيستعان بمن يستطيع التفاهم معه، ولا يعد ذلك شهادة.
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 167 explained in plain English
This article deals with special situations of the witness and distinguishes between them:
First: a witness who has not reached majority or in whom there is something preventing his testimony from being accepted
- His statements do not count as testimony.
- But the court may hear them if it finds benefit in hearing them.
The article does not list the impediments to accepting testimony but refers to them in general terms.
Second: a witness suffering from an illness or a severe disability
- If the illness or disability makes it impossible for the judge to communicate with the witness, someone who is able to communicate with the witness is used.
- The article provides that this does not count as testimony.
The basic idea of the article is that hearing statements is one thing, and treating them as testimony in the full sense is another; the court may hear statements to benefit from them in revealing the truth without treating them as testimony.
This article is part of the provisions on testimony. Article 166 provides that a witness is sentenced to ta'zir if proven to have made statements he knows are untrue, and Article 168 regulates the manner of giving testimony in the judicial session and hearing each witness separately.
A party to a case in which proof depends on the statements of a child or a person with a disability is advised to seek the help of a lawyer specialized in criminal cases.
Practical example
In a case before a court in Medina, one of those who were present at the incident was a child who had not reached majority. Under this article his statements do not count as testimony, but the court may hear them if it finds benefit in hearing them.
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 167 of the Saudi Criminal Procedure Law
Is a child's testimony accepted in criminal cases?
The article provides that the statements of a witness who has not reached majority do not count as testimony, but the court may hear them if it finds benefit in hearing them.
How does someone who cannot communicate with the judge because of illness or disability testify?
Someone who is able to communicate with the witness is used, and according to the text of the article this does not count as testimony.
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.