Article 80 of the Saudi Law of Evidence
المادة 80 من نظام الإثبات · الفصل الثالث: إجراءات الإثبات بالشهادة
The Article provides that if the court is satisfied that a witness gave false testimony, it draws up a record of this and refers it to the Public Prosecution to take the necessary measures.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
إذا ثبت للمحكمة أثناء نظر الدعوى أو عند الحكم في موضوعها أن الشاهد شهد زورًا، فتحرر محضراً بذلك، وتحيله إلى النيابة العامة لاتخاذ الإجراءات اللازمة.
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 80 explained in plain English
This Article deals with false testimony, and sets out what the court does when it is established:
- When: If it is established to the court while hearing the case or when judging on its merits.
- What is established: That the witness gave false testimony.
- The step: The court draws up a record of this and refers it to the Public Prosecution to take the necessary measures.
This Article does not set a penalty for a false witness, nor does it set out the procedures the Public Prosecution takes after the referral; its role is limited to stating what the court must do when falsehood is established: document it in a record and refer it to the competent body. What follows from this is a matter for the other relevant laws.
Note that the Article requires that it be established to the court that the witness gave false testimony; a mere allegation by one of the parties is not enough to apply it.
This Article is linked to Article 79, which gives the party testified against the right to state what undermines the witness's testimony or the witness, and leaves the court to assess the witness's integrity. It is also linked to Article 81, which regulates the urgent action to hear a witness whose chance of being called may be lost.
A person who believes that a witness gave false testimony in his case is advised to consult a lawyer specializing in litigation or in criminal cases, to learn how to present this to the court.
Practical example
In a financial claim in Riyadh, a witness testified that he was present at the handover of the amount on a particular day, and it was then established to the court from the case documents that he was outside the Kingdom on that day and had given false testimony. The court draws up a record of this and refers it to the Public Prosecution to take the necessary measures.
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 80 of the Saudi Law of Evidence
What does the court do if it discovers false testimony?
It draws up a record of this and refers it to the Public Prosecution to take the necessary measures.
When may it be established to the court that a witness gave false testimony?
While hearing the case or when judging on its merits.
Does this Article set the penalty for false testimony?
No. The Article is limited to drawing up the record and referring it to the Public Prosecution to take the necessary measures.
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.