Article 67 of the Saudi Criminal Procedure Law

المادة 67 من نظام الإجراءات الجزائية · الفصل الأول: تصرفات المحقق

When delegating, the investigator must state in writing the matters and procedures required, and the delegate may carry out other investigation work and interrogate the accused if time may be lost, subject to conditions.

Official text (Arabic)

This article has not been amended since the law was issued.

يجب على المحقق في جميع الأحوال التي يندب فيها غيره لإجراء بعض التحقيقات أن يبين - كتابةً - المسائل المطلوب تحقيقها والإجراءات المطلوب اتخاذها. وللمندوب أن يجري أي عمل آخر من أعمال التحقيق، وأن يستجوب المتهم في الأحوال التي يخشى فيها فوات الوقت، متى كان ذلك متصلًا بالعمل المندوب له ولازمًا في كشف الحقيقة.

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 67 explained in plain English

This article sets rules for delegation, in which the investigator assigns someone else to carry out some investigations.

The investigator's duty: in all cases in which he delegates someone else, he must state in writing two things:

The matters to be investigated.
The procedures to be taken.

The limits of the delegate's task are thus written and clear.

The delegate's powers: the article provides that the delegate may carry out any other investigation work, and interrogate the accused in cases where there is fear that time will be lost, where two things are met:

It is connected to the work delegated.
It is necessary to reveal the truth.

The effect of this article is clear when it is read with Article 66, which allows the investigator to delegate one of the judicial police officers in writing for one or more investigation procedures except interrogating the accused; Article 67 allows the delegate to interrogate the accused in cases where there is fear that time will be lost, and on the two conditions above. It is also linked to Article 68, which treats the procedures and results of the investigation as secrets that investigators and their assistants must not disclose. Anyone who believes a delegate exceeded the limits of his delegation in his case may consult a lawyer specialized in criminal cases.

Practical example

An investigator in Dammam delegated one of the judicial police officers in writing to seize items at a specified site, and stated the matter required in the delegation. During execution, something connected to the task and necessary to reveal the truth came up, and there is fear that time will be lost if the delegate waits for the investigator. Here the text allows the delegate to do the necessary work, including interrogating the accused.

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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