Article 55 of the Saudi Criminal Procedure Law
المادة 55 من نظام الإجراءات الجزائية · الفصل الرابع: تفتيش الأشخاص والمساكن
The article bars searching a person who is not the accused or a home other than his, unless strong indications show that the search will help the investigation.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
لا يجوز تفتيش غير المتهم أو مسكن غير مسكنه، إلا إذا اتضح من أمارات قوية أن هذا التفتيش سيفيد في التحقيق.
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 55 explained in plain English
This article protects persons who are not accused from search, and sets a rule and an exception:
- The rule: a person who is not the accused may not be searched, nor a home other than the accused's home.
- The exception: this is permitted if strong indications make it clear that the search will help the investigation.
The rule is that a search is directed at the accused and his home; others are not searched merely because of a connection to the accused, such as kinship, friendship or neighborliness. In the exception, a mere possibility or suspicion is not enough; there must be clear strong indications that the search will help the investigation.
This article is linked to Article 54, which takes account of the privacy of women present in the home when it is searched if the purpose is not to arrest or search them, and requires a woman to be with those carrying out the search and the women to be allowed to veil or leave the home. It is also linked to Article 56, which establishes the inviolability of messages, telephone conversations and other means of communication, so that they may not be viewed or monitored except under a reasoned order and for a specified period.
If a person or his home was searched while he was not accused, and he believes there were no strong indications justifying it, he may consult a lawyer specialized in criminal cases.
Practical example
A person in Riyadh was accused of fraud, and the judicial police wanted to search his brother's house. This is not permitted merely because of kinship; but if strong indications, such as messages showing that the case papers were moved to the brother's house, make it clear that the search will help the investigation, he may be searched.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
How we write and review contentA question about Article 55 of Criminal Procedure Law?
Describe what happened and specialist lawyers answer. You can write in English.
- Completely free
- Lawyers from the directory answer
- Your name stays hidden
Criminal Law lawyers: ask a specialist about your case
Describe your situation briefly and we'll suggest a lawyer who specialises in this law
Criminal Law lawyers
Lawyers who handle this kind of case
شركة امتداد النظام للمحاماة والاستشارات المهنية
- Labour & Employment Law
- Criminal Law
- Criminal Law
- Commercial & Corporate Law
Frequently asked questions about Article 55 of the Saudi Criminal Procedure Law
Can the house of a person who is not accused be searched?
A person who is not the accused, or a home other than his, may not be searched, unless strong indications make it clear that the search will help the investigation.
Is kinship with the accused enough to search my house?
No. The article is not satisfied with a connection to the accused, but requires strong indications to make it clear that the search will help the investigation.
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.