Article 185 of the Saudi Criminal Procedure Law
المادة 185 من نظام الإجراءات الجزائية · الفصل الثامن: الحكم
Article 185 permits the court to remove real property that is the subject of a possession offense and place it at its disposal during the case, and to return it to a person deprived of it by force when the offender is convicted, without prejudice to the rights of others.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
إذا كانت الجريمة متعلقة بحيازة عقار ورأت المحكمة نزعه ممن هو في يده وإبقاءه تحت تصرفها أثناء نظر الدعوى،فلها ذلك.
وإذا حكم بإدانة شخص في جريمة مصحوبة باستعمال القوة، وظهر للمحكمة أن شخصًا جرد من عقار بسبب هذه القوة، جاز للمحكمة أن تأمر بإعادة العقار إلى حيازة من اغتصب منه، دون الإخلال بحق غيره في هذا العقار.
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 185 explained in plain English
This article deals with offenses centered on real property, and gives the criminal court two powers:
- Removing the real property while the case is pending: if the offense relates to possession of real property, and the court considers removing it from the person holding it and keeping it at its disposal throughout the hearing of the case, it may do so. This is a discretionary measure assessed by the court.
- Restoring possession after conviction: if a person is convicted of an offense accompanied by the use of force, and it appears to the court that a person was deprived of real property because of this force, it may order the real property returned to the possession of the person from whom it was taken by force.
The text requires two things for restoring possession: a conviction for an offense accompanied by the use of force, and it appearing that the deprivation of the real property was because of this force. The order to restore possession is also without prejudice to the right of others in this real property; it restores the position to the person from whom the real property was taken, and does not itself decide the rights of others over it.
This article is connected to Article 184, which bars executing a ruling disposing of seized items if the ruling in the case is not final, except for perishables or items that require large expenses to keep. It is also connected to Article 186, which bars bringing another criminal case against the accused over the same acts and facts after a ruling on them.
A person from whom real property was taken by force, or who is a party to a criminal dispute over possession of real property, is best advised to consult a lawyer specialized in criminal or real estate cases.
Practical example
A person forcibly evicted a tenant from a shop in Medina and took it over. After he was convicted of an offense accompanied by the use of force, it appeared to the court that the tenant was deprived of the shop because of it, so it may order the shop returned to his possession without prejudice to the owner's 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 185 of the Saudi Criminal Procedure Law
Can the criminal court return real property that was taken by force?
Yes. If it convicts a person of an offense accompanied by the use of force and it appears to the court that a person was deprived of real property because of it, it may order the real property returned to his possession.
Can the real property be removed from its holder during the case?
If the offense relates to possession of real property, the court may remove it from the person holding it and keep it at its disposal while the case is being heard.
Does the order to restore possession affect the rights of others in the real property?
No. The text makes the return without prejudice to the right of others in this real property.
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لا يجوز توقيع عقوبة جزائية على أي شخص، إلا بعد ثبوت إدانته بأمر محظور شرعًا أو نظامًا بعد محاكمة تُجْرى وفقًا للمقتضى الشرعي.
- 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 8
The article requires judges to deliberate in secret before issuing the judgment, which is issued unanimously or by majority, with the minority's opinion stated and answered in the record, and limits deliberation to those who heard the pleading.
على أعضاء المحكمة أن يتداولوا الرأي سرًّا ويناقشوا الحكم قبل إصداره، وأن يبدي كل منهم رأيه في ذلك. وتصدر الأحكام بالإجماع أو الأغلبية. وعلى الأقلية أن توضح رأيه
- 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 178
Article 178 provides that if the court rules that an official paper is forged in whole or in part, it orders it canceled or corrected as the case may be, and minutes are drawn up and noted on the paper.
في حال حكم المحكمة بثبوت تزوير ورقة رسمية - كلها أو بعضها - فتأمر بإلغائها، أو تصحيحها - بحسب الأحوال - ويحرر بذلك محضر يؤشر على الورقة بمقتضاه.
- Article 179
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تستند المحكمة في حكمها إلى الأدلة المقدمة إليها أثناء نظر القضية، ولا يجوز للقاضي أن يقضي بعلمه ولا بما يخالف علمه.
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.