Article 21 of the Saudi Criminal Procedure Law
المادة 21 من نظام الإجراءات الجزائية · الفصل الأول: رفع الدعوى الجزائية
The article bars a member of the Investigation and Public Prosecution from handling a case or issuing any decision in it if he has a personal connection to the crime or the parties, or has previously worked on it.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
لا يجوز لعضو هيئة التحقيق والادعاء العام أن يتولى أي قضية، أو يصدر أي قرار فيها، وذلك في الحالات الآتية:
1 - إذا وقعت الجريمة عليه شخصيًا، أو كان زوجًا لأحد الخصوم، أو كانت تربطه بأحدهم صلة قرابة أو مصاهرة إلى الدرجة الرابعة.
2 - إذا كان بينه وبين أحد الخصوم عداوة أو مودة يرجح تأثيرها في مسار التحقيق.
3 - إذا كان قد سبق له أن أدى أي عمل في القضية؛ بوصفه خبيرًا، أو محكمًا، أو وكيلًا، أو أدى شهادة فيها، ونحو ذلك.
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 21 explained in plain English
This article safeguards the impartiality of members of the Investigation and Public Prosecution. A member may not handle any case or issue any decision in it in the following situations:
- Personal connection to the crime or the parties:
- If the crime was committed against him personally.
- If he is the spouse of one of the parties.
- If he is related to one of the parties by blood or marriage up to the fourth degree.
- Enmity or affection: if there is enmity or affection between him and one of the parties that is likely to influence the course of the investigation. Mere acquaintance or disagreement is not enough; the influence on the investigation must be likely.
- Previous work on the case: if he has previously done any work in the case as an expert, arbitrator or agent, or has given testimony in it, and the like.
The bar covers both handling the case and issuing any decision in it, so it is not limited to one stage or another. The article does not set out the procedure for requesting recusal or the body that decides it.
This article is connected to Article 20, which protects the court, the parties and witnesses from acts that influence them; both aim to keep the case free from personal influences.
Anyone who believes that the investigator in their case falls within one of these situations should consult a lawyer specialized in criminal cases.
Practical example
A fraud case in Riyadh was referred to a member of the Investigation and Public Prosecution, and it then emerged that one of the parties is his wife's brother. Under this article, he may not handle the case or issue any decision in it, because marriage-based kinship up to the fourth degree is one of the grounds barring him from handling it.
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 21 of the Saudi Criminal Procedure Law
Can an investigator investigate a case in which one of his relatives is a party?
No. If he is related to one of the parties by blood or marriage up to the fourth degree, or is the spouse of one of them, he may not.
Does enmity between the investigator and the accused bar him from handling the case?
Yes, if the enmity or affection between him and one of the parties is likely to influence the course of the investigation.
Can someone who was an expert or witness in the case investigate it?
No. If the member has previously done work in the case as an expert, arbitrator or agent, or has given testimony in it, he may not.
More articles on The Criminal Case and Its Extinction
- Article 13
The article assigns investigation and public prosecution to the Bureau of Investigation and Public Prosecution, under its law and regulations.
تتولى هيئة التحقيق والادعاء العام التحقيق والادعاء العام طبقًا لنظامها ولائحته.
- Article 15
The article makes bringing the criminal case and pursuing it before the competent courts the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Investigation and Public Prosecution, under its law.
تختص هيئة التحقيق والادعاء العام - وفقًا لنظامها - بإقامة الدعوى الجزائية ومباشرتها أمام المحاكم المختصة.
- 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 19
The article requires the court, if it finds accused persons other than those the case was brought against, or other facts related to the charge, to notify whoever brought the case so the procedures can be completed.
إذا تبين للمحكمة - في دعوى مقامة أمامها - أن هناك متهمين غير من أقيمت الدعوى عليهم، أو وقائع أخرى مرتبطة بالتهمة المعروضة، فعليها إبلاغ من رفع الدعوى بذلك؛ لاست
- Article 22
The article sets four situations in which the public criminal action ends: a final judgment, the ruler's pardon where pardon applies, repentance that waives the penalty, and the death of the accused, without preventing the private-right action from continuing.
تنقضي الدعوى الجزائية العامة في إحدى الحالات الآتية: 1 - صدور حكم نهائي. 2 - عفو ولي الأمر فيما يدخله العفو. 3 - ما تكون التوبة فيه بضوابطها الشرعية مسقطة للعقو
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.