Article 28 of the Saudi Criminal Procedure Law
المادة 28 من نظام الإجراءات الجزائية · الفصل الأول: جمع المعلومات وضبطها
The article allows judicial police officers, while gathering information, to hear those who have information and question the person accused of the crime, record this in their records, and seek the written opinion of experts.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
لرجال الضبط الجنائي أثناء جمع المعلومات أن يستمعوا إلى أقوال من لديهم معلومات عن الوقائع الجنائية ومرتكبيها، وأن يسألوا من نسب إليه ارتكابها، ويثبتوا ذلك في محاضرهم. ولهم أن يستعينوا بأهل الخبرة من أطباء وغيرهم ويطلبوا رأيهم كتابة.
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 28 explained in plain English
This article sets out the means available to judicial police officers in the information-gathering stage, which precedes the investigation:
- Hearing statements: they may hear the statements of those who have information about criminal incidents and their perpetrators.
- Questioning the person accused of the act: they may question the person accused of committing the crime. The text uses the word "question", which is different from the interrogation carried out in the investigation.
- Recording in the records: they record what they hear and what they ask about in their records.
- Seeking the assistance of experts: they may seek the assistance of experts, such as physicians and others, and request their opinion in writing.
The wording in the article is permissive ("judicial police officers may"), so these are powers used as the incident requires.
This article is connected to Article 27, which requires judicial police officers to accept reports and complaints, examine them and gather the related information in a record, and to go to the scene and record the measures in a record. It is also connected to Article 29, which treats a complaint filed by a person harmed by the crime as a claim for his private right, unless he expressly states before the investigator that he waives his right.
Anyone summoned to give a statement at a police station, whether as a witness or as the person accused of the act, should consult a lawyer specialized in criminal cases.
Practical example
A hit-and-run accident occurred on a road in Riyadh. The judicial police officer heard the statements of witnesses who were at the scene, questioned the driver accused of the accident and recorded this in his record, then asked a physician for his written opinion on the injured person's injuries.
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 28 of the Saudi Criminal Procedure Law
Can the police question a suspect before the investigation?
The article allows judicial police officers, while gathering information, to question the person accused of committing the crime and to record this in their records.
Do judicial police officers seek the assistance of physicians?
Yes. They may seek the assistance of experts, such as physicians and others, and request their opinion in writing.
More articles on Arrest and Flagrant Offenses
- Article 2
The article bars arresting, searching, detaining or imprisoning any person except in the cases provided by law, and prohibits harming, torturing or degrading an arrested person.
لا يجوز القبض على أي إنسان، أو تفتيشه، أو توقيفه، أو سجنه، إلا في الأحوال المنصوص عليها نظامًا، ولا يكون التوقيف أو السجن إلا في الأماكن المخصصة لكل منهما وللمد
- Article 14
The article requires all officers of public authority to carry out the orders of judicial bodies issued under the Law, and allows them to use the appropriate means to carry them out.
على جميع رجال السلطة العامة أن ينفذوا أوامر الجهات القضائية الصادرة طبقًا لهذا النظام، ولهم أن يستعملوا الوسيلة المناسبة لتنفيذها.
- Article 24
The article defines judicial police officers as the persons who search for the perpetrators of crimes and gather the information and evidence needed for investigation and bringing charges.
رجال الضبط الجنائي هم الأشخاص الذين يقومون بالبحث عن مرتكبي الجرائم وجمع المعلومات والأدلة اللازمة للتحقيق وتوجيه الاتهام.
- Article 25Amended (1443 AH)
The article places judicial police officers, in their judicial police functions, under the supervision of the Public Prosecution, and allows it to request disciplinary accountability for violators or negligent officers, without prejudice to the right to bring a criminal action.
يخضع رجال الضبط الجنائي - فيما يتعلق بوظائفهم في الضبط الجنائي المقررة في هذا النظام - لإشراف النيابة العامة. وللنيابة العامة أن تطلب من الجهة المختصة النظر في
- Article 26
The article lists the categories that carry out judicial police work, each according to its assigned tasks, from members of the Investigation and Public Prosecution and police directors to those authorized by special laws.
يقوم بأعمال الضبط الجنائي - بحسب المهمات الموكولة إليه - كل من: 1 - أعضاء هيئة التحقيق والادعاء العام، في مجال اختصاصهم. 2 - مديري الشرط ومعاونيهم في المدن والم
- Article 27
The article requires judicial police officers to accept reports and complaints in all crimes, examine and document them and notify the Authority immediately, and to go to the scene to preserve it and seize the evidence.
على رجال الضبط الجنائي كل بحسب اختصاصه أن يقبلوا البلاغات والشكاوى التي ترد إليهم في جميع الجرائم، وعليهم وعلى مرءوسيهم تحت إشرافهم أن يقوموا بفحصها وجمع المعلو
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.