Article 61 of the Saudi Law of Evidence
المادة 61 من نظام الإثبات · الباب الرابع: الدليل الرقمي
A party who refuses without an acceptable excuse to submit what the court requests to verify digital evidence forfeits his right to rely on it, or the evidence is treated as binding on him.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
إذا امتنع أي من الخصوم عن تقديم ما طلبته المحكمة للتحقق من صحة الدليل الرقمي بغير عذر مقبول؛ سقط حقه في التمسك به أو عدّ حجة عليه بحسب الأحوال.
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 61 explained in plain English
This Article deals with a common situation in cases where digital evidence is submitted, such as electronic messages, files or records stored on devices: the court asks one of the parties to submit something needed to verify the validity of the digital evidence, and he refuses to submit it.
The Article sets a clear consequence for this refusal, provided that it is without an acceptable excuse, and the consequence differs according to the circumstances:
- If the party who refuses is the one relying on the digital evidence in his favor, his right to rely on it is forfeited, so he does not benefit from it.
- If the evidence is submitted against him, the evidence may be treated as binding on him.
The aim is that no one benefits from obstructing verification; whoever obstructs the examination of the evidence bears the consequence. If the party has an excuse the court accepts, this consequence does not follow.
This Article complements what Article 60 provides, that digital evidence is submitted in its original form or by any other digital means, and that the court may ask for its content in writing where its nature allows. It is also matched by Article 62, which deals with the case where verification is impossible for a reason not attributable to the parties, in which the court assesses the force of the evidence from what appears to it from the circumstances of the case. A person who faces a request of this kind in his case is advised to consult a lawyer specializing in litigation and evidence.
Practical example
In a claim against his partner, Ahmed submitted images of conversations proving an agreement between them, and the court asked for the original device or account to be submitted to verify them, but Ahmed refused without an acceptable excuse. In this case his right to rely on those conversations as evidence in the case is forfeited.
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 61 of the Saudi Law of Evidence
What happens if I refuse to submit what the court asked for to verify digital evidence?
If the refusal is without an acceptable excuse, your right to rely on the evidence is forfeited, or it is treated as binding on you, as the case may be.
Is a party penalized if he has an excuse for not submitting?
No. The consequence in the Article depends on the refusal being without an acceptable excuse.
What is the difference between this Article and Article 62?
Article 61 deals with a party's refusal, while Article 62 deals with the impossibility of verification for a reason not attributable to the parties, in which the court assesses the force of the evidence according to the circumstances of the case.
More articles on Digital Evidence
- Article 10
Any evidence procedure taken electronically is subject to the same provisions set out in the Law of Evidence.
يكون لأي إجراء من إجراءات الإثبات اتخذ إلكترونياً الأحكام المقررة في هذا النظام.
- Article 52
The Article allows the court to accept a paper or digital document issued outside the Kingdom if certified by the competent authorities in the country of issue and in the Kingdom, unless it contravenes public order.
مع عدم الإخلال بالتزامات المملكة بموجب الاتفاقيات الدولية التي تكون طرفاً فيها، يجوز للمحكمة أن تقبل في الإثبات المحرَّر الورقي أو الرقمي الصادر خارج المملكة وا
- Article 53
The Article defines digital evidence as any evidence derived from data created, issued, delivered, stored or communicated by digital means, which can be retrieved in an understandable form.
يعد دليلاً رقمياً كل دليل مستمد من أي بيانات تنشأ أو تصدر أو تسلم أو تحفظ أو تبلغ بوسيلة رقمية، وتكون قابلة للاسترجاع أو الحصول عليها بصورة يمكن فهمها.
- Article 54
The Article lists the forms of digital evidence: the digital record, document and signature, digital correspondence including email, means of communication, digital media, and any other digital evidence.
يشمل الدليل الرقمي الآتي: 1- السجل الرقمي. 2- المحرَّر الرقمي. 3- التوقيع الرقمي. 4- المراسلات الرقمية بما فيها البريد الرقمي. 5- وسائل الاتصال. 6- الوسائط الرق
- Article 55
The Article provides that proof by digital evidence has the same rule as proof by writing set out in the Law of Evidence.
يكون للإثبات بالدليل الرقمي حكم الإثبات بالكتابة الوارد في هذا النظام.
- Article 56
Official digital evidence has the force of an official document if it meets the conditions of paragraph 1 of Article 25, including what is issued automatically by the digital systems of public bodies.
يكون للدليل الرقمي الرسمي الحجية المقررة للمحرَّر الرسمي؛ إذا استوفى الشروط المنصوص عليها في الفقرة (1) من المادة (الخامسة والعشرين) بما في ذلك ما يصدر آلياً من
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.