Article 205 of the Saudi Criminal Procedure Law
المادة 205 من نظام الإجراءات الجزائية · الفصل الثالث: إعادة النظر
The article regulates filing a reconsideration request by petition with the court that issued the judgment, referral to the upholding court if any, the decision to accept or reject it, and the right to object to a rejection.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يرفع طلب إعادة النظر بصحيفة تودع لدى المحكمة التي أصدرت الحكم، ويجب أن تشتمل الصحيفة على بيان الحكم المطلوب إعادة النظر فيه ورقمه وتاريخه وأسباب الطلب، وتقيد إدارة المحكمة الصحيفة في يوم إيداعها في السجل الخاص بذلك. وإن كان الحكم مؤيدًا من المحكمة العليا أو من محكمة الاستئناف، فترفع المحكمة التي أصدرت الحكم صحيفة طلب إعادة النظر إلى المحكمة التي أيدت الحكم للنظر في الطلب. وعلى المحكمة - بحسب الأحوال - أن تعد قرارًا بقبول الطلب أو عدم قبوله، فإن قبلته فتنظر في الدعوى المحكمة التي أصدرت الحكم، وعليها إبلاغ أطراف الدعوى بذلك. وإن لم تقبله، فلطالب إعادة النظر الاعتراض على عدم القبول وفقًا للإجراءات المقررة للاعتراض، ما لم يكن القرار صادرًا من المحكمة العليا.
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 205 explained in plain English
After Article 204 set out the cases for reconsideration of final judgments imposing a penalty, this article explains the procedure for the request:
- The petition: The request is made by a petition lodged with the court that issued the judgment, stating the judgment sought to be reconsidered, its number and date, and the grounds of the request. The court administration registers it in the designated register on the day it is lodged.
- If the judgment was upheld: If the judgment was upheld by the Supreme Court or by a Court of Appeal, the court that issued it sends the petition to the court that upheld the judgment to consider the request.
- Decision to accept or reject: As the case may be, the court must prepare a decision accepting or rejecting the request.
- If accepted: The case is heard by the court that issued the judgment, which must notify the parties to the case.
- If not accepted: The person who requested reconsideration may object to the rejection under the procedures prescribed for objections, unless the decision was issued by the Supreme Court.
Article 206 provides that acceptance of the request does not stay execution of the judgment unless it imposes a corporal penalty of retaliation (qisas), a fixed penalty (hadd) or a discretionary penalty (ta'zir); in other cases the court may order a stay of execution in its decision accepting the request.
Anyone wishing to file a reconsideration request is best advised to use a lawyer specialized in criminal cases to prepare the petition and set out its grounds.
Practical example
Adel wanted to request reconsideration of a final judgment issued against him by a criminal court in Riyadh and upheld by the Court of Appeal. He lodged the petition with the court that issued the judgment, which sent it to the Court of Appeal that had upheld it to consider the request.
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 205 of the Saudi Criminal Procedure Law
Where do I file a reconsideration request?
By a petition lodged with the court that issued the judgment; if the judgment was upheld, that court sends it to the court that upheld it.
What must the reconsideration petition contain?
The judgment sought to be reconsidered, its number and date, and the grounds of the request.
Can I object if a reconsideration request is rejected?
Yes, under the procedures prescribed for objections, unless the rejection decision was issued by the Supreme Court.
Who hears the case after the request is accepted?
The court that issued the judgment, which must notify the parties to the case.
More articles on Objecting to Criminal Judgments
- Article 9
The article provides that criminal judgments are open to objection under the provisions of the Criminal Procedure Law.
تكون الأحكام الجزائية قابلة للاعتراض عليها وفقًا للأحكام المنصوص عليها في هذا النظام.
- Article 10
The article provides that judgments issued by the court of appeal, or upheld by it, for death, stoning, amputation or qisas (retaliation) are not final until upheld by the Supreme Court.
الأحكام الصادرة من محكمة الاستئناف أو المؤيدة منها بالقتل، أو الرجم، أو القطع، أو القصاص في النفس أو فيما دونها، لا تكون نهائية إلا بعد تأييدها من المحكمة العلي
- Article 11
The article provides that if the Supreme Court does not uphold a judgment presented to it under Article 10, it sets it aside and returns the case to the court of first instance to rule on it anew by judges other than those who heard it.
إذا لم تؤيد المحكمة العليا الحكم المعروض عليها ـ تطبيقًا للمادة (العاشرة) من هذا النظام ـ فتنقض الحكم، وتعيد القضية إلى محكمة الدرجة الأولى لتحكم فيها من جديد م
- Article 192
Article 192 gives the convicted person, the public prosecutor and the private right claimant the right to request appeal or review of first-instance rulings, and requires the court to inform them of this right when pronouncing the ruling.
1 - للمحكوم عليه وللمدعي العام وللمدعي بالحق الخاص؛ طلب استئناف أو تدقيق الأحكام الصادرة من محاكم الدرجة الأولى خلال المدة المقررة نظامًا. وعلى المحكمة التي تصد
- Article 193
Article 193 sets an appointment of at most ten days after the ruling is pronounced to receive a copy of the judgment deed, makes depositing it in the file, if the parties do not attend, the start of the objection period, and regulates handing it to a prisoner or detainee.
تحدد المحكمة بعد النطق بالحكم موعدًا أقصاه عشرة أيام لتسلم صورة صك الحكم، مع إثبات ذلك في ضبط القضية وأخذ توقيع الخصوم. فإن لم يحضر أيّ منهم لتسلم صورة صك الحكم
- Article 194
Article 194 sets the objection period for requesting appeal or review at thirty days, after which the right lapses, and requires that rulings of death, stoning, amputation and retaliation be submitted to the court of appeal even if no one requests it.
مدة الاعتراض بطلب الاستئناف أو التدقيق ثلاثون يومًا. فإذا لم يقدم المعترض اعتراضه خلال هذه المدة سقط حقه في طلب الاستئناف أو التدقيق. وإذا كان الحكم صادرًا بالق
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.