Article 79 of the Saudi Law of Evidence
المادة 79 من نظام الإثبات · الفصل الثالث: إجراءات الإثبات بالشهادة
The Article gives the party testified against the right to state what undermines the witness or his testimony, and leaves the court to assess the witness's integrity without any need for character vouching.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- للخصم المشهود عليه أن يبين للمحكمة ما يخل بشهادة الشاهد من طعن فيه أو في شهادته. وتقدر المحكمة أثر ذلك في الشهادة.
2- للمحكمة تقدير عدالة الشاهد من حيث سلوكه وتصرفه وغير ذلك من ظروف الدعوى، دون حاجة إلى التزكية، ولها عند الاقتضاء الاستعانة في تقدير العدالة بما تراه من وسائل.
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 79 explained in plain English
This Article deals with challenging the witness and assessing his integrity, in two paragraphs:
- Paragraph (1) – right to challenge: The party testified against may state to the court what undermines the witness's testimony, whether it is a challenge to the witness himself or to his testimony. The court assesses the effect of this on the testimony.
- Paragraph (2) – assessing integrity: The court may assess the witness's integrity from his conduct, his behavior and other circumstances of the case, without any need for vouching. When necessary, it may use whatever means it sees fit to assess integrity.
"Without any need for vouching" means that the court is not bound to have someone testify to the witness's integrity before accepting his testimony; rather, it assesses his integrity itself from what appears to it from his conduct, his behavior and the circumstances of the case, and it may use whatever means it sees fit when necessary.
A challenge to a witness does not mean that his testimony falls automatically; the Article leaves it to the court to assess the effect of the challenge.
This Article is linked to Article 78, which requires testimony to be recorded in minutes that include the witness's details and his connection to the parties, information that may help in challenging him. It is also linked to Article 80, which requires the court, if it is established to it that a witness gave false testimony, to draw up a record of this and refer it to the Public Prosecution. A person who has grounds to challenge his opponent's witness is advised to consult a lawyer specializing in litigation.
Practical example
In a compensation claim in Abha, a witness testified in favor of the plaintiff, and the defendant showed the court that the witness has an old dispute with him. The court assesses the effect of this challenge on the testimony, and may assess the witness's integrity from his conduct, his behavior and the circumstances of the case without asking anyone to vouch for him.
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 79 of the Saudi Law of Evidence
Am I entitled to challenge my opponent's witness?
Yes. The party testified against may state to the court what undermines the witness's testimony, whether a challenge to the witness or to his testimony, and the court assesses the effect of this.
Does the court need someone to vouch for the witness?
No. The court may assess the witness's integrity from his conduct, his behavior and the circumstances of the case without any need for vouching.
Does a challenge automatically defeat the testimony?
No. The Article leaves it to the court to assess the effect of the challenge on the testimony.
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.