Article 9 of the Saudi Prisons and Detention Law
المادة 9 من نظام السجن والتوقيف
What a prisoner or detainee hides or refuses to hand over, and what someone else tries to secretly get to him in prison, is confiscated.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يصادر ما يخفيه المسجون أو الموقوف أو يمتنع عن تسليمه، أو يحاول غيره خفية توصيله إليه في السجن.
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 9 explained in plain English
This article provides for confiscation of items in three cases:
- What the prisoner or detainee hides: that is, what he tries to hide from the search or from the prison administration.
- What he refuses to hand over: if he is asked to hand something over and refuses.
- What someone else tries to secretly get to him in prison: for example, a visitor or another person trying to secretly pass something to him.
These cases differ from the one regulated by Article (8); there, every prisoner or detainee must be searched before entry, and his money and valuables are placed in the safe of the prison or detention facility to be handed to him upon release or to the person he designates. That is, what is handed over in the proper way is kept for its owner, whereas what is hidden, or withheld from handing over, or passed in secretly, is confiscated.
The text provides for confiscation only. This article does not mention other penalties for someone who tries to pass something in, nor the authority that disposes of the confiscated items.
It is followed by Article (10), which refers to the Implementing Regulations the setting of rules for classifying prisoners by type of crime, seriousness, repetition and length of sentence.
Anyone who faces a situation of this kind, whether a prisoner's relative or a visitor, should consult a lawyer who specializes in criminal cases.
Practical example
During a visit to a prison in Riyadh, a visitor tried to secretly pass a mobile phone to his imprisoned relative. Under this article the phone is confiscated, because it is something that a person other than the prisoner tried to secretly get to him.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
How we write and review contentCriminal Law lawyers: ask a specialist about your case
Describe your situation briefly and we'll suggest a lawyer who specialises in this law
Criminal Law lawyers
Lawyers who handle this kind of case
Ibrahim Al Salem Law Firm
Active contributor
Dr. Ali Al-Rubaie Law Office and Ittihad Al-Asr Legal Company
Frequently asked questions about Article 9 of the Saudi Prisons and Detention Law
Is what a prisoner hides confiscated?
Yes. What a prisoner or detainee hides or refuses to hand over is confiscated.
What happens if a visitor tries to secretly bring something to a prisoner?
The article provides for confiscation of what someone other than the prisoner or detainee tries to secretly get to him in prison.
What is the difference between confiscation and depositing belongings?
Money and valuables taken at the search are placed in the safe and returned upon release under Article (8), whereas what is hidden, withheld from handing over or secretly passed in is confiscated.
More articles on Admission to Prison and Release
- Article 7
No one may be placed in prison or detention, transferred or released except by a written order from the competent authority, and no prisoner or detainee may stay after the period stated in his commitment order ends.
لا يجوز إيداع أي إنسان في سجن أو في دار للتوقيف أو نقله أو إخلاء سبيله إلا بأمر كتابي صادر من السلطة المختصة، ولا يجوز أن يبقى المسجون أو الموقوف في السجن أو دو
- Article 8
Every prisoner or detainee must be searched before entry, and his money and valuables must be placed in the safe to be handed to him upon release or to the person he designates.
يجب أن يفتش كل مسجون أو موقوف قبل دخوله السجن أو دار التوقيف وأن يؤخذ ما يوجد معه من نقود أو أشياء ذات قيمة وتودع خزانة السجن أو دار التوقيف لتسليمها إليه عند ا
- Article 11
A convict whose stay in prison exceeds four years must go through a transition period before release, counted as part of the sentence, to make it easier to integrate him into society.
إذا زادت مدة بقاء المحكوم عليه في السجن عن أربع سنين، وجب قبل الإفراج عنه أن يمر بفترة انتقال تهدف إلى تيسير إدماجه في المجتمع بعد الإفراج عنه وتحتسب هذه الفترة
- Article 21
An administrative procedure may not delay the release of a prisoner or detainee beyond the set time.
لا يجوز أن يؤخر الإجراء الإداري الإفراج عن المسجون أو الموقوف في الوقت المحدد.
- Article 24
A prisoner or detainee is released before noon on the day after his sentence or period of detention ends, unless a general pardon provides otherwise, in which case he is released at the time set by the pardon decision.
يفرج عن المسجون أو الموقوف قبل ظهر اليوم التالي لانقضاء العقوبة أو مدة الإيقاف، وذلك ما لم يصدر عفو عام عن الجريمة أو العقوبة أو جزء منها فيتم الإفراج عن المسجو
- Article 26
The period a detainee spends in a detention facility is deducted from the sentence imposed on him.
تخصم المدة التي يقضيها الموقوف في دار التوقيف من المدة المحكوم بها عليه.
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.