Article 77 of the Saudi Law of Evidence
المادة 77 من نظام الإثبات · الفصل الثالث: إجراءات الإثبات بالشهادة
The Article regulates questioning a witness: the right of the parties and the court to question him, no interrupting him, the right to object to questions, and the witness's right to decline to answer while stating the reason.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- لأي من الخصوم توجيه الأسئلة مباشرة إلى الشاهد، وإذا انتهى الخصم من سؤال الشاهد فلا يجوز له إبداء أسئلة جديدة إلا بإذن المحكمة.
2- للمحكمة أن توجه للشاهد ما تراه من الأسئلة مفيداً في كشف الحقيقة.
3- ليس للخصم أن يقطع كلام الشاهد أثناء أداء الشهادة أو الإجابة.
4- للخصم الاعتراض على سؤال وجه للشاهد، وعليه أن يبين وجه اعتراضه، ويُثبت الاعتراض وما تقرره المحكمة بشأنه في محضر الجلسة.
5- للشاهد أن يمتنع عن الإجابة على سؤال وجه إليه، وعليه أن يبين وجه امتناعه، ويُثبت ذلك وما تقرره المحكمة بشأنه في محضر الجلسة.
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 77 explained in plain English
This Article sets the rules for questioning a witness during the hearing, in five paragraphs:
- Questions by the parties: Any party may put questions directly to the witness. Once a party has finished his questioning, he may not ask new questions without the court's permission.
- Questions by the court: The court may put to the witness any questions it sees as useful for revealing the truth.
- No interruption: A party may not interrupt the witness while he is giving testimony or answering.
- Objecting to a question: A party may object to a question put to the witness, and must state the ground for his objection, and the objection and what the court decides about it are recorded in the minutes of the hearing.
- Witness declining to answer: The witness may decline to answer a question put to him, and must state the ground for his refusal, and this and what the court decides about it are recorded in the minutes of the hearing.
With these rules, confrontation between the parties and the witness is achieved, while the hearing remains orderly under the court's supervision. Objecting and declining are not absolute, since the reason for them must be stated, and the decision on them rests with the court and is recorded in the minutes.
This Article is linked to Article 76, which allows the court, where witnesses differ, to take the extent of the testimony it is convinced is true provided the difference does not reach contradiction, and to Article 78, which requires testimony to be recorded in minutes that include the witness's details, his connection to the parties, the text of his testimony and his answers. A person preparing to question his opponent's witnesses is advised to seek the help of a lawyer specializing in litigation.
Practical example
In a case between two partners in Dammam, one party's lawyer finished questioning the witness and then wanted to ask a new question, which he may not do without the court's permission. When the other party put a question that the first thought strayed from the subject of the case, he objected and stated the ground for his objection, and the objection and what the court decided were recorded in the minutes of the hearing.
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 77 of the Saudi Law of Evidence
Am I entitled to question my opponent's witness directly?
Yes. Any party may put questions directly to the witness, and may not ask new questions after finishing without the court's permission.
May a witness refuse to answer a question?
Yes. The witness may decline to answer, and must state the ground for his refusal, and this and what the court decides about it are recorded in the minutes of the hearing.
How do I object to a question put to the witness?
A party may object, provided he states the ground for his objection, and the objection and what the court decides about it are recorded in the minutes of the hearing.
May a witness be interrupted?
No. A party may not interrupt the witness while he is giving testimony or answering.
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.