Criminal cases differ from other types of cases in terms of procedures, competent authorities, and the penalties they carry, so handling them requires precise legal knowledge of the stages of a criminal case. That’s why having a Criminal Cases Lawyer in Jeddah is essential to ensure the legal proceedings are carried out correctly.
The role of the criminal lawyer extends across the various stages of a case, starting with the investigation and inquiry stage with the police, through the investigation at the Public Prosecution, and up to the case being heard before the Criminal Court, in addition to objecting to rulings and taking them to the Court of Appeal when needed.
If you’re facing a criminal case and need legal support to help protect your rights or prove your innocence, you can contact Al Safwa Law Firm for Advocacy and Legal Consultations to get the appropriate consultation and legal representation.
You can contact us and request our legal services by clicking here.
Why Choose Al Safwa When Looking for a Criminal Cases Lawyer in Jeddah?
When dealing with criminal cases, choosing the right lawyer can be the most important factor in the course and outcome of the case. Criminal cases in Saudi Arabia require precise knowledge of the laws and legal procedures, as well as the ability to analyze evidence and build a strong legal defense before the competent authorities and the court.
Al Safwa Law Firm for Advocacy and Legal Consultations is distinguished by its practical experience in handling various types of criminal cases, with its legal team providing comprehensive support that includes offering legal consultations, carefully studying the case file, following up on investigation procedures, and pleading before the court in accordance with the provisions of the Law of Criminal Procedure in Saudi Arabia.
The firm is also keen to provide clear, effective legal solutions, with continuous follow-up on developments in the case and keeping the client informed of every legal step taken. So if you’re looking for a criminal cases lawyer in Jeddah with the experience and competence to defend your rights and represent you before the judicial authorities, reaching out to Al Safwa is an important step toward protecting your legal interests.
Our Services in Criminal Cases in Jeddah
Many people believe that criminal cases are only cases related to murder, and that in these cases punishment is inevitable, so there’s no need for a criminal cases lawyer in Jeddah — this is a mistaken or outdated belief, to be precise and objective.
In reality, criminal cases today are diverse and include many cases that are no less serious than murder, and may even resemble it in many details.
How Do We Help You?
We help you by providing the following services:
- Criminal legal consultations on various criminal cases and their procedures, and advice on what should be done at every stage, whether with the police, the Public Prosecution, or the various courts.
- Following up on the case throughout its various stages, such as attending police investigation sessions, following up on the investigation procedures at the Public Prosecution, and finally at the Criminal Court.
- Carefully studying the details of the case and gathering the evidence and conclusions we can present before the judges of the Criminal Court in Jeddah to help the client, and appealing the ruling if it isn’t accepted.
- Representing clients before the legal authorities in Saudi Arabia across their various types and levels.
- Gathering arguments and evidence that prove the client’s innocence if they are innocent, bearing in mind the presumption of innocence of the accused until proven otherwise through legal methods and conclusive evidence.
- Reducing the penalty imposed on the client as much as possible if they were involved in the offense, in a manner consistent with the laws and regulations of Saudi Arabia.
- Objecting to criminal rulings before the Court of Appeal, and taking the case to the Supreme Court if the client needs to.
- If the client wants to file a claim, our services include: drafting the statement of claim and submitting it to the Criminal Court in Jeddah.
- Drafting a petition for reconsideration of the ruling.
Specializations of the Criminal Lawyer / Criminal Cases in Jeddah
The core role of a criminal lawyer is to defend clients accused in various criminal cases. Below are our areas of specialization in Criminal Court cases in Jeddah:
- Murder and attempted murder: Murder has three types: intentional murder, quasi-intentional murder, and murder by mistake; if the legal conditions for retribution (qisas) aren’t met, the court imposes a discretionary (ta’zir) penalty on the accused as prescribed by law.
- Forgery: The elements of the forgery offense must be fully established, and among its elements is that the forgery causes harm to the claimant, or alters facts, among other things — see Forgery Cases Lawyer — for more details.
- Drug cases: To apply the penalties set out in the Anti-Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Law, the offense must be legally proven. The types of cases we handle include: drug smuggling, bringing in, importing, or exporting drugs, first- and second-time drug dealing, and sale and distribution.
- Incitement and interference in a marital relationship: Some cases may involve a claim that a third party interfered with the intent to damage the relationship between spouses. The path varies depending on the acts and evidence involved — the matter may be a family issue, may involve a private right, or may be connected to an independent criminal or cybercrime act. See our guide on the ruling on a party who caused a divorce and incitement claims in Saudi Arabia.
- Assault (Mudaraba): Physically assaulting others.
- Assault on life or less than life: These are cases in which the lawyer defends the accused in cases of assault on life through killing, or less than life, such as causing disabilities or physical impairments like the loss of the use of a limb, or causing wounds, fractures, and other acts resulting in significant harm.
- Possession of intoxicants: This type of case can be connected to other cases — it may simply be possession or consumption of an intoxicant, or it may be linked to other cases, such as driving while intoxicated and causing a traffic accident, or assaulting another person, in which case other measures are taken.
- Harassment: It’s commonly believed that harassment is a morality offense, but harassment is misconduct that needs to be corrected. See: Morality Case Lawyer.
- Defamation: Defaming others via social media is a cybercrime — see: Cybercrime Lawyer.
- Financial and administrative corruption cases: We provide criminal legal consultations and represent clients in all cases before the Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority (Nazaha), such as bribery, abuse of power, breach of professional duties, embezzlement, money laundering, and breach of the integrity of public office.
The Importance of Having a Criminal Lawyer in Jeddah Throughout the Stages of a Criminal Case
A criminal case goes through several stages, starting with investigation and inquiry by the security authorities, then investigation at the Public Prosecution, up to the case being heard before the Criminal Court.
Having a criminal lawyer in Jeddah throughout these stages helps protect the accused’s rights and ensures the procedures are handled in accordance with the judicial regulations in effect in the Kingdom.
The importance of this shows up in several aspects, including:
- Providing legal consultation from the start of the case.
- Following up on the investigation procedures before the police and the Public Prosecution.
- Studying and legally analyzing the evidence and facts related to the case.
- Preparing legal defenses and memoranda and submitting them to the court.
- Representing the accused in court hearings before the Criminal Court.
- Objecting to rulings and taking them to the Court of Appeal when needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Criminal cases are connected to the Public Prosecution, which is why many people ask questions about the Public Prosecution, its powers, and what a specialized lawyer can help with.
Which court has jurisdiction over criminal cases?
The court with jurisdiction over all criminal cases is the Criminal Court.
Can a ruling issued by the Court of Appeal be objected to?
Yes, all rulings issued by the Criminal Court of Appeal can be challenged through cassation.
What are the types of criminal cases in Saudi Arabia?
There are two types of criminal cases handled by a criminal cases lawyer in Jeddah, each with its own legal procedures, rulings, and methods related to filing and litigating the case, as follows:
1. Public criminal cases: These involve offenses that violate the public right, meaning a direct offense against the state or society.
2. Private criminal cases: These involve offenses that violate an individual's private right, including assault, battery, and theft. In this type of case, the lawsuit is filed by the victim of the offense or their legal representative.
When should you contact a criminal lawyer in Jeddah?
It's recommended to contact a criminal lawyer in Jeddah as soon as you're summoned for investigation, or when you suspect you may be involved in a criminal case, because early consultation helps you understand the legal procedures and handle them correctly. The lawyer also helps protect the accused's rights from the start of the case through the trial stages and any objection to the ruling.
How long does a criminal case stay with the Public Prosecution?
The duration can't be determined definitively — it depends on the type of offense, its impact and severity, the suspicions and gaps involved, as well as matters specific to the person suspected of committing the offense.
How long can the accused be detained by the Public Prosecution?
The length of time the accused is held by the Public Prosecution depends on the procedures specific to the case, but the Law of Criminal Procedure sets certain time limits for detention — it grants the Public Prosecution the right to detain the accused for a maximum of six months pending investigation, under pretrial detention.
In criminal cases, taking the correct legal action at the right time can have a major impact on protecting rights and determining the course of the case. That’s why engaging a specialized lawyer helps in handling the criminal case in accordance with the applicable laws and procedures.
For legal consultation or representation in criminal cases, you can contact Al Safwa Law Firm for Advocacy and Legal Consultations to help you follow up on the case and defend your rights before the competent authorities.
Generally speaking, the period for detaining the accused is five days, renewable, without exceeding a total of 30 days. The right to detain for up to six months cannot be exercised except after carefully studying the implications of the case and its file, and referring it to the competent court.
Sources and References
- Law of Criminal Procedure.
- Saudi Public Prosecution.
- The Role of the Public Prosecution in Initiating a Criminal Case – Okaz Newspaper.