Article 32 of the Saudi Criminal Procedure Law
المادة 32 من نظام الإجراءات الجزائية · الفصل الثاني: التلبس بالجريمة
The article allows the judicial police officer, in a flagrant crime, to prevent those present from leaving the scene until the record is drawn up and to summon anyone with information, and to refer violators to the competent court.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
لرجل الضبط الجنائي عند انتقاله - في حال التلبس بالجريمة - أن يمنع الحاضرين من مبارحة مكان الواقعة أو الابتعاد عنه، حتى يحرر المحضر اللازم بذلك. وله أن يستدعي في الحال من يمكن الحصول منه على معلومات في شأن الواقعة.
وإذا خالف أحد الحاضرين الأمر الصادر إليه من رجل الضبط الجنائي أو امتنع أحد ممَّن دعاهم عن الحضور؛ فيثبت ذلك في المحضر، ويحال المخالف إلى المحكمة المختصة لتقرير ما تراه في شأنه.
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 32 explained in plain English
This article gives the judicial police officer two powers when he goes to the scene of a flagrant crime:
- Preventing those present from leaving or moving away from the place, temporarily, until the necessary record is drawn up.
- Summoning on the spot anyone from whom information about the incident can be obtained.
The article states the consequence of non-compliance: if one of those present violates the order given to him, or one of those summoned refuses to appear, this is recorded in the record, and the violator is referred to the competent court to decide what it sees fit regarding him. The article does not set a specific penalty, but leaves the assessment to the court.
These powers are tied to flagrancy and to the going to the scene required by Article 31, and the duration of the prevention is tied to the drawing up of the record, so it should not be understood as an arrest of those present; arresting an accused person who is present is regulated by Article 33, on condition that there is sufficient evidence of his accusation.
Anyone who finds himself present at the scene of such an incident should comply with the judicial police officer's instructions and give what he knows. Anyone referred over a violation, or with a question about his position, may consult a lawyer specialized in criminal cases.
Practical example
A theft occurred in a mobile phone shop in Jeddah at a busy time, and the judicial police officer arrived minutes later. He asked the customers present to stay until the record was drawn up, and summoned the complex's guard because he had seen the thief. One customer left despite the request, so the judicial police officer recorded this in the record, and the violator is referred to the competent court to decide what it sees fit.
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 32 of the Saudi Criminal Procedure Law
Can the police prevent me from leaving the scene of a crime?
Yes. In a flagrant crime, the judicial police officer may prevent those present from leaving or moving away from the scene until the necessary record is drawn up.
What happens if I refuse to appear when the judicial police officer summons me?
Your refusal is recorded in the record, and you are referred to the competent court to decide what it sees fit regarding you.
Does the Law set a penalty for violating the judicial police officer's order at the scene?
No. The article does not set a specific penalty; it provides for referring the violator to the competent court to decide what it sees fit regarding him.
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.