Article 4 of the Saudi Criminal Procedure Law
المادة 4 من نظام الإجراءات الجزائية · الباب الأول: أحكام عامة
The article gives every accused the right to engage an agent or lawyer to defend him in the investigation and trial stages, and refers to the Law's regulations to state the accused's rights he must be informed of.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1 - يحق لكل متهم أن يستعين بوكيل أو محام للدفاع عنه في مرحلتي التحقيق والمحاكمة.
2 - تبين لوائح هذا النظام حقوق المتهم الواجب التعريف بها.
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 4 explained in plain English
This article establishes the right of defense, one of the most important safeguards of the accused, and it contains two rules:
- The right to engage an agent or lawyer: Every accused may engage an agent or lawyer to defend him, and this right applies at two stages: the investigation stage and the trial stage. The right is not limited to standing before the judge, but extends to the investigation that precedes the trial. The text covers "every accused" without distinction.
- Informing of rights: The regulations of this Law state the rights of the accused of which he must be informed. The article itself does not list these rights, but leaves their detail to the regulations.
This right is connected to Article 3, which does not allow a criminal penalty to be imposed on any person except after his conviction is proven following a trial conducted according to Sharia requirements; having someone to defend the accused enables him to present his defense before a ruling is made on his case. Article 5 also provides that once a case is brought before a court it may not be referred to another court or body, and no one may withdraw it from the court before judgment.
Anyone who has been accused or summoned for investigation would do well to engage a lawyer specialized in criminal cases from the investigation stage.
Practical example
Fahd was summoned for investigation over a financial fraud report in Dammam. Under this article he is entitled to engage a lawyer or agent to defend him during the investigation, and then at the trial stage if the case is referred to the court.
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 4 of the Saudi Criminal Procedure Law
Is an accused entitled to appoint a lawyer during the investigation?
Yes. The article provides that every accused may engage an agent or lawyer to defend him in the investigation and trial stages.
Must the accused be informed of his rights?
The article provides that the Law's regulations state the rights of the accused of which he must be informed, without the article itself listing them.
Is the right of defense limited to a lawyer?
No. The article allows the accused to engage an agent or a lawyer.
More articles on Rights of the Accused
- 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 3
The article bars imposing any criminal penalty on a person except after his conviction is proven for an act prohibited by Sharia or by law, following a trial conducted according to Sharia requirements.
لا يجوز توقيع عقوبة جزائية على أي شخص، إلا بعد ثبوت إدانته بأمر محظور شرعًا أو نظامًا بعد محاكمة تُجْرى وفقًا للمقتضى الشرعي.
- Article 33
The article allows the judicial police officer, in a flagrant crime, to arrest an accused person who is present where there is sufficient evidence, and bars keeping him detained for more than 24 hours except by written order of the investigator.
لرجل الضبط الجنائي في حال التلبس بالجريمة القبض على المتهم الحاضر الذي توجد دلائل كافية على اتهامه؛ على أن يحرِّر محضرًا بذلك، وأن يبادر بإبلاغ هيئة التحقيق وال
- Article 35
The article provides that, outside flagrant crimes, no one may be arrested or detained except by order of the competent authority.
في غير حالات التلبس بالجريمة، لا يجوز القبض على أي إنسان أو توقيفه إلا بأمر من السلطة المختصة بذلك.
- Article 36
The article guarantees the detainee dignified treatment, no harm, knowledge of the reasons for detention and contact with whom he wishes, and sets rules for detained employees and women.
1 - يجب أن يعامل الموقوف بما يحفظ كرامته ولا يجوز إيذاؤه جسديًا أو معنويًا ويجب إخباره بأسباب توقيفه ويكون له الحق في الاتصال بمن يرى إبلاغه. 2 - يجب إبلاغ مرجع
- Article 37
The article limits detention and imprisonment to places designated by law, and bars admitting anyone except under a reasoned, time-limited order signed by the competent authority, or keeping him beyond that period.
لا يجوز توقيف أي إنسان أو سجنه إلا في السجون أو أماكن التوقيف المخصصة لذلك نظامًا. ولا يجوز لإدارة أي سجن أو توقيف قبول أي إنسان إلا بموجب أمر مسبب ومحدد المدة
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.