Article 51 of the Saudi Criminal Procedure Law
المادة 51 من نظام الإجراءات الجزائية · الفصل الرابع: تفتيش الأشخاص والمساكن
The article bars breaking the seals placed on seized items except in the presence of the accused, his agent or the person from whom they were seized, or after inviting and notifying them and their not attending at the specified time.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
لا يجوز فض الأختام الموضوعة - طبقًا للمادة (الخمسين) من هذا النظام - إلا بحضور المتهم أو وكيله أو من ضبطت عنده هذه الأشياء، أو بعد دعوتهم لذلك وإبلاغهم بها وعدم حضورهم في الوقت المحدد.
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 51 explained in plain English
This article protects the integrity of sealed items after they are sealed, as it requires those concerned to be present when they are opened.
The rule: the seals placed under Article 50 may be broken only in the presence of one of the following:
- The accused.
- His agent.
- The person from whom these items were seized.
The alternative if they do not attend: the seals may be broken if they were invited to attend and notified of it, and then did not attend at the specified time. The article therefore does not allow the seals to be broken in their absence except after these steps.
The seals meant are those provided for in Article 50, which requires, before leaving the search site, that the seized items and papers be placed in a closed container, tied up if possible, sealed, with the date of the record written on a strip inside the seal and the matter for which the seizure took place indicated.
The purpose of this rule is that the accused and the person from whom the items were seized can be reassured that what is in the container is what was actually seized, and that they have an opportunity to attend when it is opened.
If you receive an invitation to attend the breaking of seals on items concerning you, you may attend yourself or through your agent, and to learn the consequences of this in your case you may consult a lawyer specialized in criminal cases.
Practical example
A computer was seized from the office of Turki in Riyadh and placed in a sealed container. When the investigating authority needed to open the container, Turki and his agent were invited and notified of the date. If either attends, the seal is broken in his presence, and if neither attends at the specified time despite the invitation and notification, the seal may be broken.
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 51 of the Saudi Criminal Procedure Law
Can sealed items be opened without the accused being present?
The seals may be broken only in the presence of the accused, his agent or the person from whom the items were seized, or after they have been invited and notified and have not attended at the specified time.
Can a lawyer attend instead of the accused when the seals are broken?
Yes. The article mentions the accused's agent among those in whose presence the seals may be broken.
What happens if I do not attend after being invited to the breaking of seals?
If you were invited and notified and did not attend at the specified time, the seals may be broken without your presence.
Articles this article refers to
More articles on Search and Seizure
- Article 41
The article establishes the inviolability of persons, their homes, offices and vehicles, and clarifies that a person's inviolability covers his body, clothing, property and belongings, and that a home includes any enclosed or fenced place or one prepared as shelter.
للأشخاص ومساكنهم ومكاتبهم ومراكبهم حرمة تجب صيانتها. وحرمة الشخص تحمي جسده وملابسه وماله وما معه من أمتعة. وتشمل حرمة المسكن كل مكان مسوّر أو محاط بأي حاجز، أو
- Article 42
The article bars entering or searching homes except in cases provided by law and under a reasoned order from the Investigation and Public Prosecution, accepts a reasoned permit from the investigator for other places, and sets specific cases of necessity.
لا يجوز لرجل الضبط الجنائي الدخول إلى أي مكان مسكون أو تفتيشه إلا في الأحوال المنصوص عليها نظامًا، وبأمر مسبب من هيئة التحقيق والادعاء العام، وما عدا المساكن في
- Article 43
The article allows the judicial police officer to search the accused in cases in which he may lawfully be arrested, covering his body, clothing and belongings, and requires a woman to be searched by a woman whom the officer assigns.
يجوز لرجل الضبط الجنائي - في الأحوال التي يجوز فيها نظامًا القبض على المتهم - أن يفتشه. ويشمل التفتيش جسده وملابسه وأمتعته. وإذا كان المتهم امرأة وجب أن يكون ال
- Article 44
The article allows the judicial police officer, in a flagrant crime, to search the accused's home and seize what helps reveal the truth, if strong indications show that such items are in the home.
يجوز لرجل الضبط الجنائي في حال التلبس بالجريمة أن يفتش مسكن المتهم ويضبط ما فيه من الموجودات التي تفيد في كشف الحقيقة؛ إذا اتضح من أمارات قوية أنها موجودة في ال
- Article 45
The article allows the judicial police officer to search the accused or any person in his home during the search, if indications arise that he is hiding something that helps reveal the truth.
إذا قامت أثناء تفتيش مسكن متهم قرائن ضده، أو ضد أي شخص موجود فيه - على أنه يخفي معه شيئًا يفيد في كشف الحقيقة - جاز لرجل الضبط الجنائي أن يفتشه.
- Article 46
The article limits a search to looking for things relating to the crime under investigation, and requires the judicial police officer to seize what appears incidentally that it is a crime to possess or that helps in another crime, and record it.
لا يجوز التفتيش إلا للبحث عن الأشياء الخاصة بالجريمة الجاري جمع المعلومات عنها، أو التحقيق في شأنها. ومع ذلك، إذا ظهر عرضًا أثناء التفتيش وجود أشياء تعد حيازتها
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.