Article 76 of the Saudi Law of Evidence
المادة 76 من نظام الإثبات · الفصل الثالث: إجراءات الإثبات بالشهادة
Where witnesses' testimony differs, the Article allows the court to take the extent of it that it is convinced is true, provided the difference does not amount to contradiction.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تأخذ المحكمة حال اختلاف شهادة الشهود بالقدر الذي تقتنع بصحته من الشهادة؛ على ألا يؤدي هذا الاختلاف إلى التناقض في شهادتهم.
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 76 explained in plain English
The accounts of witnesses often differ in some details, and this Article explains how the court deals with this difference.
- The rule: Where witnesses' testimony differs, the court takes the extent of the testimony that it is convinced is true.
- The restriction: Provided that this difference does not lead to contradiction in their testimony.
The Article thus distinguishes between two things:
- Difference: testimonies vary without conflicting in a way that cancels one another; here the court may take the extent it is convinced is true.
- Contradiction: the case where the difference leads to testimonies conflicting; the Article makes not reaching it a condition for the court to take this extent.
The text does not state expressly what the court does if the difference reaches the point of contradiction, but it makes the absence of contradiction a condition for applying this rule.
This Article is linked to Article 75, which requires each witness to be heard separately unless there is a valid need, which allows testimonies to be compared, and to Article 77, which enables the parties and the court to put questions to the witness, a means of revealing points of difference. Because the assessment of difference and contradiction rests with the court in each case, a person whose witnesses' statements conflict is advised to consult a lawyer specializing in litigation.
Practical example
Two witnesses in a case in Riyadh testified that Sulaiman handed an amount to his opponent; one said it was in the morning and the other said it was at noon, and they agreed on the fact of the handover and the amount. Here the court may take the extent of their testimony that it is convinced is true, as long as their difference does not reach contradiction.
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 76 of the Saudi Law of Evidence
What happens if witnesses differ in their statements?
The court takes the extent of the testimony that it is convinced is true, provided that the difference does not lead to contradiction in their testimony.
Does every difference between witnesses defeat the testimony?
The Article does not provide that; it allows the court to take what it is convinced is true as long as the difference does not lead to contradiction.
More articles on Testimony and Witnesses
- Article 11
Admission, interrogation, testimony and the oath take place before the court, which may move or assign a judge if that is not possible, and delegates the court of the place of residence if evidence cannot be taken electronically.
1- تكون إجراءات الإثبات من إقرار أو استجواب أو أداء للشهادة أو اليمين أمام المحكمة، فإن تعذر فللمحكمة أن تنتقل أو تكلف أحد قضاتها بذلك. 2- إذا كان المقر أو المس
- Article 12
A mute person's admission, interrogation, testimony and oath, and the directing, refusing and returning of it, are done in writing, or if he cannot write, by his customary gestures.
يكون إقرار الأخرس ومن في حكمه واستجوابه وأداؤه للشهادة واليمين وتوجيهها والنكول عنها وردها بالكتابة، فإن لم يكن يعرف الكتابة فبإشارته المعهودة.
- Article 19
A non-judicial admission is proved in accordance with the provisions of the Law of Evidence, and may not be proved by testimony except in cases where proof by testimony is permitted.
يكون إثبات الإقرار غير القضائي وفق الأحكام المقررة في هذا النظام، بما في ذلك عدم جواز إثباته بالشهادة إلا في الأحوال التي يجوز فيها الإثبات بالشهادة.
- Article 65
The Article provides that the rule is that proof by witness testimony is permitted, unless a provision states otherwise.
يجوز الإثبات بشهادة الشهود؛ ما لم يرد نص يقضي بغير ذلك.
- Article 66
The Article requires every transaction worth more than SAR 100,000, or of unspecified value, to be proven in writing, bars proof by witnesses unless agreed or provided, and explains how value is assessed.
1- يجب أن يثبت بالكتابة كل تصرف تزيد قيمته على (مائة ألف ريال أو ما يعادلها) أو كان غير محدد القيمة. 2- لا تقبل شهادة الشهود في إثبات وجود أو انقضاء التصرفات ال
- Article 67
The Article sets out three cases in which proof by witnesses is barred even if the value of the transaction does not exceed SAR 100,000.
لا يجوز الإثبات بشهادة الشهود ولو لم تزد قيمة التصرف على (مائة ألف ريال أو ما يعادلها) في الحالات الآتية: 1- فيما اشترط النظام لصحته أو إثباته أن يكون مكتوباً.
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.