أصول المحاكمات الجزائية

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Status: Approved · Approved on 2025-12-07 21:31

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Source version: 2025-10-04T13:35:26+00:00

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Code of Criminal Procedure

Published on: 2001-07-08

General Provisions

Article 1 - The purpose of the Code of Criminal Procedure is to
regulate criminal tribunals and to determine their jurisdiction and
the procedures to be observed in criminal investigations and trials. It
also sets out the types of recourse available against judgements and
decisions rendered.
A further purpose is to regulate the procedures for bringing to light
the facts and supporting evidence of criminal offences in order to
apply criminal law.

Article 2 - Ordinary Criminal Courts are divided as follows: المادة2:تقسَّم المحاكم الجزائية العادية إلى:
(a) A Single Judge who hears all cases concerning
misdemeanors and petty offences unless special provision is made
for exceptions. The Public Prosecution Office shall not be
represented before him;

(b) An Appeal Court, each chamber of which is
composed of a Presiding Judge and two Counsellor Judges. The Public
Prosecution Office is represented before it by an Appeal Court
Prosecutor, or an Appeal Court Advocate-General, or by the Public
Financial Prosecutor, or by an Advocate-General attached to the
Public Financial Prosecution Office;

(c) A Court of Cassation, each chamber of which is composed of
a Presiding Judge and two Counsellor Judges. The Public Prosecution
Office is represented before it by the Public Prosecutor at the Court
of Cassation or an Advocate-General at the Court of Cassation.

Article 3 - The Investigation Department in each governorate is
composed of a First Investigating Judge and one or more
Investigating Judges, in accordance with the provisions of the Law
Regulating Ordinary Tribunals.
A civil chamber of the Appeal Court shall perform the
functions of an Indictment Chamber in each governorate.

Article 4 - The Judiciary Act lays down the procedures governing the
appointment of ordinary judges, the number of chambers of the
Court of Cassation in the capital, and the number of Appeal Court
chambers, Single Judges, Investigating Judges and Advocates-General
in the capital, the governorates and the districts.

Public prosecution and civil action

Article 5 - Responsibility for initiating a public prosecution, the
purpose of which is to prosecute the perpetrators of offences and
the participants therein and to subject them to penalties and
preventative measures, lies with the Judges of the Public Prosecution
Office in accordance with this Code. Whereas civil action for
compensation for damages suffered as a result of an offence lies with
every aggrieved party.
Any person against whom a public prosecution is initiated shall be
termed a defendant; a person charged with a misdemeanour shall be
termed “a person charged with a misdemeanour”; and a person
accused of committing a felony shall be termed an accused.

Article 6 - The Public Prosecution Office has the duty to exercise the
public prosecution. It may not relinquish the public prosecution or
arrange a settlement.
A civil action may be initiated following the public prosecution before
the judicial authority before which that prosecution was initiated.
The civil action may also be brought separately before the civil
authority.
An offence is deemed to have been committed when the acts of the
offence were carried out, irrespective of the time at which the result
occurred.

Article 7 - An aggrieved party may assume the status of a civil party
before the First Investigating Judge in the case of a felony or
misdemeanor, or before the Single Judge in the case of a
misdemeanor or a petty offence. The aggrieved person may also
join the public prosecution before the Criminal Court.
By filing a suit, the aggrieved party brings a public prosecution if the
Public Prosecution Office has not done so. The aggrieved party may
withdraw the civil action or reach a settlement without thereby
affecting the public prosecution, except in cases where the lapse of
the civil action entails the lapse of the public prosecution.

Article 8 - An aggrieved party who has brought an action before the
competent civil tribunals may not withdraw it and bring an action
before the criminal tribunals unless the Public Prosecution Office
initiated a public prosecution on a date subsequent to that on which
the aggrieved person brought the action before the civil tribunals,
provided that a final judgement has not been delivered in the civil
proceedings.
The civil authority shall stay the civil proceedings until the public
prosecution’s case has been irrevocably disposed of; Summary
Affairs Tribunals shall remain competent to take summary measures
even if a civil action has been brought before the criminal tribunals.

Article 9 - The public prosecution shall be initiated before the
criminal authority which has jurisdiction over the area in which the
offence was committed, the place of residence of the defendant, or
the place in which the defendant was apprehended.

Article 10 - The public prosecution shall lapse for one of the
following reasons:
(a) Death of the defendant; 
(b) A general amnesty; 
(c) Expiry of a prescription period of ten years in the
case of a felony, three years in the case of a misdemeanor, and one
year in the case of a petty offence;
(d) Lapse of the civil action in the cases specified by law. 
–The prescription period shall begin to run in the case of
instantaneous offences on the date of their occurrence. Whereas, in
the case of continuous, continuing or successive offences, the
prescription period shall begin to run on the date on which the
criminal situation comes to an end.
–The grounds interrupting the prescription period for the public
prosecution shall also interrupt the prescription period for the civil
action. However, the grounds for interruption of the prescription of
the civil action shall not interrupt the prescription for the public
prosecution. 
–The prescription period shall be suspended if it proves impossible,
because of force majeure, to perform any act of prosecution,
investigation or trial, and it shall resume as soon as the impediment
is eliminated. 
–The above-mentioned provisions regarding the prescription period
shall not preclude compliance with provisions regarding certain misdemeanors and petty offences. 
– In the event of the lapse of the public prosecution on one of the
above-mentioned grounds, the Criminal Tribunal that is seized of the
case shall continue to hear the civil action. It shall order the
confiscation of impounded objects if such objects are prohibited by
law. 
–The prescription period for the civil action is governed by civil law. 
–The provisions of the Criminal Code governing the prescription
period shall be applicable to the penalties imposed. 
Part I: The Public Prosecution Office
Article 11
•	The functions of the Public Prosecution Office at the Court of Cassation are performed by a Public Prosecutor with the assistance of Advocates-General.
•	The duties of the Public Financial Prosecution Office at the Office of the Public Prosecution at the Court of Cassation are performed by a Public Prosecutor with the assistance of Advocates-General.
•	The functions of the Public Prosecution Office at the Appeal Court are performed by a Public Prosecutor with the assistance of one or more Advocates-General.
•	The activities of the Public Prosecution Office at the Military Court are carried out by a Government Commissioner, who is subject to the authority of the Public Prosecutor at the Court of Cassation and is assisted by one or more Advocates-General.
Article 12
•	Each Public Prosecutor heads a department and assigns activities falling within his jurisdiction to the Advocates-General who assist him.
Chapter I: Duties of the Public Prosecutor at the Court of Cassation
Article 13 (as amended by Law No. 359/2001)
•	The Public Prosecution Office at the Court of Cassation is headed by a Public Prosecutor who is appointed by a decree of the Council of Ministers based on a proposal by the Minister of Justice. He is assisted by Advocates-General.
•	The authority of the Public Prosecutor at the Court of Cassation extends to all Judges of the Public Prosecution Office, including the Government Commissioner at the Military Court. He may give them written or oral instructions for the conduct of the public prosecution. However, they retain their freedom of speech at trial hearings.
•	The Public Prosecutor shall refer to each of them, depending on their area of jurisdiction, the reports and records produced with respect to any offence, and request them to initiate the requisite public prosecution.
•	Subject to Article 79 of the Law Regulating the Profession of Lawyers, and in all cases in which a criminal prosecution requires authorisation or consent from a non-judicial authority, where a dispute arises between that authority and the Appeal Court Prosecutor’s Office, the Public Financial Prosecution Office or the Government Commissioner at the Military Court, the Public Prosecutor at the Court of Cassation makes the final ruling on the matter, notwithstanding any specific or general provision.
Article 14 (as amended by Law No. 359/2001)
•	The Minister of Justice may request the Public Prosecutor at the Court of Cassation to prosecute any offences of which he has knowledge.
•	The latter shall be entitled, if necessary, to undertake the investigation directly or through his assistants – the Judges of the Public Prosecution Office assigned to assist him or members of the Judicial Police subject to his authority – but he shall not be entitled to prosecute.
Article 15
•	The Public Prosecutor at the Court of Cassation may supervise Judicial Police officers in the performance of their duties as assistants to the Public Prosecution Office. He may make such observations as he sees fit to their supervisors regarding the performance referred to above, and may request the Appeal Court Prosecutor, the Public Financial Prosecutor or the Government Commissioner at the Military Court to prosecute any officer who commits a criminal offence during the performance of his duties or in connection with their performance, without having to obtain prior permission. Such offences shall be handled by the ordinary judiciary notwithstanding any provision to the contrary.
Article 16
•	The Appeal Court Public Prosecutor, the Public Financial Prosecutor, the Government Commissioner at the Military Court, the Director-General of the Internal Security Forces, the Director-General of the Sûreté Générale and the Director-General of State Security shall inform the Public Prosecutor at the Court of Cassation of serious offences of which they have knowledge, and they shall comply with his instructions in this regard.
•	The Public Prosecutor at the Court of Cassation may access the file pertaining to an investigation being conducted by an Investigating Judge, and ask the competent Public Prosecutor to make submissions that comply with his written instructions.
•	He may admonish Judges of the Public Prosecution Office for any shortcomings in their work, or he may recommend to the Judicial Inspection Board that they be referred to the Disciplinary Board.
Article 17
•	The Public Prosecutor at the Court of Cassation shall undertake the following activities:
•	(a) Apply for the cassation of judgements and decisions in criminal proceedings in accordance with the procedures laid down in this Code;
•	(b) Request that a judicial authority be designated and that a case be transferred from one court to another;
•	(c) Prosecute offences referred to the Court of Justice;
•	(d) Prosecute offences committed by judges, whether those offences stem from or are unrelated to their judicial office;
•	(e) Represent the Public Prosecution Office at the Court of Cassation and the Court of Justice;
•	(f) Prepare files relating to the extradition of criminals and forward them to the Minister of Justice together with his reports;
•	(g) Compile a detailed report to accompany the file of a person sentenced to death when the case is referred to the Commission for Pardons.
Chapter II: Duties of the Public Financial Prosecution Office
Article 18
•	The Public Financial Prosecutor is appointed by a decree of the Council of Ministers based on a proposal by the Minister of Justice.
•	The Public Financial Prosecutor shall exercise, within the limits of the duties specified in this Code, the same prerogatives as those of the Public Prosecutor at the Court of Cassation.
Article 19
•	The Public Financial Prosecutor has the authority to prosecute the following offences:
•	(a) Offences arising from breaches of the provisions of the legislation relating to taxes and duties in various public utilities and institutions and municipalities, including Amiri and municipal taxes, customs duties, and cable and wireless communication duties;
•	(b) Offences arising from breaches of the legislation concerning banks, financial institutions and the stock exchange, particularly those provided for in the Code on Money and Credit;
•	(c) Offences arising from breaches of the legislation on public limited companies, and offences by multinational companies;
•	(d) Offences that undermine the State’s financial standing, or Lebanese or foreign banknotes circulating by law or by custom in Lebanon, and offences involving the counterfeiting, forgery and circulation of currency, public securities, stamps and stamped papers;
•	(e) Offences involving the embezzlement of public funds;
•	(f) Offences pertaining to bankruptcy.
Article 20
•	Banking offences arising from breaches of the Code on Money and Credit may be prosecuted only on the basis of a written request from the Governor of the Banque du Liban.
•	Breaches pertaining to customs duties may be prosecuted only on the basis of a written request from the Director-General of Customs. In cases where the competent administration is entitled to reach a settlement with the defendant, the public prosecution shall lapse if the settlement is reached prior to the delivery of a judgement. Enforcement of the penalty shall be stayed if the settlement is reached thereafter, in the absence of a legal text to the contrary.
Article 21
•	The Public Financial Prosecutor shall exercise the prerogatives vested in him by this Code under the supervision of the Public Prosecutor at the Court of Cassation and subject to the rules and regulations applied by the Appeal Court Prosecutor, as provided for in this Code and in financial legislation.
•	These prerogatives of the Public Financial Prosecutor shall extend throughout Lebanese territory. In this respect, he may request, through the Public Prosecutor at the Court of Cassation, the Appeal Court Prosecutor in any governorate to initiate a public prosecution before the Investigating Judges or to initiate proceedings directly before the competent courts.
Article 22
•	The Public Financial Prosecutor may seek the assistance of specialists in banking, fiscal and financial affairs to perform the technical tasks he assigns to them, after they take the oath of legal expertise, unless they are sworn experts.
•	The Public Prosecutor at the Court of Cassation may, proprio motu or at the request of the Public Financial Prosecutor, request the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, through the Minister of Justice, to task the Central Inspection Board to undertake any investigation into financial matters that he is empowered to examine.
Article 23
•	The Public Financial Prosecution Office shall maintain a special judicial record of all companies to which Decree No. 3094 of 25 January 1993 is applicable, wherein record shall be made of all criminal judgements delivered against them.
•	Registrars at the competent courts shall inform the Public Financial Prosecution Office of any criminal judgement that has been or is to be delivered against a company so that it may be recorded in the special judicial record of companies, within three months of the date of the judgement.
Chapter III: Duties and Procedures of the Public Prosecution Office at the Court of Appeal in the Case of Offences Discovered in Flagrante
Section I: Duties of the Public Prosecution Office at the Court of Appeal
Article 24
•	The duties of the Public Prosecution Office at the Court of Appeal are as follows:
•	(a) To investigate offences characterized as misdemeanours or felonies and to prosecute those who participated in their commission. The Office may directly request assistance from the security forces in the performance of its duties. Where it obtains knowledge of the occurrence of a serious offence, it shall immediately inform the Public Prosecutor at the Court of Cassation and carry out his instructions;
•	(b) To initiate and exercise public prosecutions;
•	(c) To represent the Public Prosecution Office at Appeal Courts and Criminal Courts and to enforce their judgements;
•	(d) To issue a search and investigation notice if the person named in a complaint or a suspect cannot be found or if his domicile is unknown; the notice shall contain his full identity and specify the alleged offence.
•	When a search and investigation notice is executed, the issuing Prosecutor’s Office shall be informed forthwith;
•	The search and investigation notice expires ipso jure ten days after its date of issue unless the Public Prosecutor decides to extend it for thirty days, following which it shall expire ipso jure;
•	(e) To extinguish criminal judgements or to preclude or suspend their enforcement pursuant to Article 147 of the Criminal Code;
•	(f) To carry out any other duties assigned to it under this Code and any other legislation.
•	The Advocate-General at the Court of Appeal may perform the duties of the Public Prosecutor at the Appeal Court set out in this Code.
Article 25
•	The Public Prosecution Office obtains information regarding offences by one or more of the following means:
•	(a) Investigations conducted by the Office itself;
•	(b) Reports from the official authority or an officer who obtained knowledge of an offence during the performance of his duties or concurrently or in connection with his performance thereof. Such an officer is entitled to carry out an investigation in public administrations and institutions but he does not have the right to bring charges;
•	(c) Preliminary inquiries conducted by the Judicial Police where it has been tasked to investigate offences, and the records it submits when it learns an offence has occurred;
•	(d) Complaints or denunciations filed either directly or through the Public Prosecution Office at the Court of Cassation or its assistants;
•	(e) Any lawful means that enables it to obtain information regarding the offence.
Article 26
•	The Public Prosecution Office at the Court of Appeal brings charges relating to the offence and names the defendants. It may bring charges against an unknown person before the Investigating Judge, thereby initiating a public prosecution.
Article 27
•	A complaint is filed by an aggrieved party or his counsel while denunciations are submitted by an informant who knew of the offence or heard about it. Denunciations are admissible only if submitted in writing and signed by the informant or his counsel.
•	All complaints or denunciations shall state, clearly and in full, the name of the complainant or informant and his place of residence.
Article 28
•	Any person who witnesses a violation against public security, or against the safety, life or property of individuals, is required to report the matter to the Public Prosecutor at the Court of Appeal, or to one of his assistants, with jurisdiction over the place where the offence occurred, the place where the perpetrator was apprehended, or his place of residence. Anyone who fails to comply with this requirement without lawful excuse shall be prosecuted before the Single Criminal Judge with jurisdiction over the place where the offence occurred and shall be sentenced to a fine of between two hundred thousand and two million Lebanese pounds.
Section II: Procedures to be Followed by the Public Prosecution Office in the Case of an Offence Discovered in Flagrante
Article 29
•	An offence discovered in flagrante is:
•	(a) An offence witnessed as it occurs;
•	(b) An offence where the perpetrator is apprehended during or immediately after its commission;
•	(c) An offence following which the suspect is chased by hue and cry;
•	(d) An offence detected immediately after being committed, within a time where traces of its commission are clearly discernible;
•	(e) An offence where a person is caught in possession of objects, weapons or documents indicating that he is the perpetrator, within twenty-four hours of the occurrence of the offence.
Article 30
•	Whether a felony or a misdemeanour, an offence shall have the status of in flagrante if it occurs within a dwelling of which the owner or an occupier requests the Public Prosecution Office to conduct an investigation within twenty-four hours of its discovery.
Article 31
•	If a felony discovered in flagrante occurs, the Public Prosecutor or the Advocate-General shall, as soon as they are notified thereof, proceed to the scene of the offence. They shall inform the First Investigating Judge or the Investigating Judge on duty that they are so proceeding, without being required to wait for him to arrive in order to do the following:
•	(a) Compile a record registering the traces of the offence visible to them, and describing the scene and the apparent evidence about the circumstances in which it took place;
•	(b) Impound weapons and other criminal items used in the commission of the offence as well as any objects that may assist in disclosing the truth, and question the suspect about impounded objects, after having shown them to him;
•	(c) Interview persons who witnessed the offence or who possess information about it after they swear the legal oath of witness. Each statement shall be noted in a record, which shall be signed by the Public Prosecutor or Advocate-General, the clerk and the witness. If the latter refuses to sign, this shall be indicated in the record.
Article 32 (as amended by Law No. 359/2001)
•	The Public Prosecutor or the Advocate-General may prohibit persons present at the scene of the felony from leaving it. Anyone who breaches this prohibition shall be prosecuted before the Single Judge having jurisdiction over the area where the offence occurred and shall be sentenced to a fine of between two hundred thousand and two million Lebanese pounds.
•	If there are strong suspicions regarding one of the persons present, the Prosecutor or Advocate-General shall order his apprehension and interrogate him. The person shall remain in custody for the purposes of the investigation for a period not exceeding forty-eight hours unless the Prosecutor or Advocate-General considers that additional time is required for the investigation, in which case his custody shall be extended for a further forty-eight hours. The person being interrogated may ask for the assistance of a lawyer during the interrogation. During the period of custody, he, his counsel, or a member of his family may request a medical examination, and the Public Prosecutor or the Advocate-General shall appoint a physician as soon as the request is made. The Judicial Police officers and their assistants shall not be present when the physician carries out the examination. The physician shall submit his report to the person who assigned him to perform the examination and provide a copy thereof to the defendant within a period not exceeding twenty-four hours.
•	If the suspect absconded or was not present at the beginning of the investigation, the Public Prosecutor or the Advocate-General shall issue an enforceable summons to have him brought before them immediately. When the suspect appears before them, they shall question him forthwith. Denunciations shall not of themselves be sufficient ground to issue an enforceable summons in respect of a person whose place of residence is known.
•	Procedures relating to a felony discovered in flagrante shall end eight days after their commencement.
Article 33
•	The Public Prosecutor may enter a suspect’s home to search for items that he believes will help to shed light on the investigation. He may impound such items as he finds, which shall be described clearly and in detail in his record. He may also decide to preserve the impounded items, depending on their nature. He may decide to conduct the search in the presence of the suspect or the defendant. If the suspect or defendant is not present, refuses to attend, or has absconded, the search shall be conducted in the presence of his counsel, or two adult members of his family, or two witnesses selected by the Public Prosecutor.
•	When the search is completed and the items impounded, the Public Prosecutor shall display the impounded items to the suspect, the defendant, his counsel or the aforementioned persons and ask each one of them to sign the record. If they refuse, this shall be noted in the record.
•	If the Public Prosecutor finds prohibited objects during the search, he shall impound them. If they are not items resulting from, used in or associated with the offence, he shall report them in a separate record.
•	The Public Prosecutor may task a Judicial Police officer to conduct a search of the home of the suspect or defendant, under his supervision and control, in accordance with the rules to be observed by the Public Prosecutor himself.
•	It is permissible to enter homes to conduct a search or to look for a perpetrator only between 5 a.m. and 8 p.m. unless the homeowner explicitly agrees to this outside that time period. However, the Public Prosecutor or the authorized Judicial Police officer may conduct a search or look for a suspect at any time in public places or in homes that have acquired such status by virtue of the use made of them.
Article 34
•	If the nature of the offence or its traces requires the assistance of one or more competent experts to clarify technical issues, the Public Prosecutor shall appoint the expert and clearly specify his assignment.
•	If the victim’s condition necessitates medical assistance or an autopsy, the Public Prosecutor shall send for the forensic pathologist or competent physician and give him clear and detailed instructions regarding his assignment.
•	The expert or physician shall carry out the assignment only after swearing an oath to act by his honour and conscience.
•	He may not exceed the bounds of the assignment. After completing it, he shall file a report specifying the authority that appointed him, the task assigned, the measures taken and his conclusions.
Article 35
•	The Public Prosecutor shall take any other investigative procedures he deems necessary to gather useful information regarding the felony, to collect evidence and to identify the perpetrators or accomplices. The procedures must be lawful and must not be vitiated by moral or material coercion.
•	He shall make mention in his records of all procedures taken, the time of their commencement and completion, and all means employed in their implementation. He shall then sign each record together with the clerk who assisted him.
Article 36
•	The Public Prosecutor shall cease his investigation of an offence discovered in flagrante when the Investigating Judge arrives, and he shall provide the Judge with his records and the impounded items, except for those which are unrelated to the offence and were impounded on the ground that they are prohibited items. The Public Prosecutor shall, before the Investigating Judge, charge those against whom evidence exists or who are suspected of having participated in the commission of the offence. If the time limit applicable to in flagrante offences expires before the Investigating Judge arrives, the Public Prosecutor shall complete his investigations and forward the documents contained in the case file to the Investigating Judge, together with the statement of charges.
Article 37
•	When an in flagrante offence occurs within his area of jurisdiction, the Single Judge shall proceed to the scene to undertake an investigation if the Public Prosecutor or the Investigating Judge is not present. He shall observe the rules applicable to the Public Prosecutor in this regard. He shall cease his inquiries as soon as either of them arrives. On completion of his investigation, he shall forward the file to the Public Prosecutor.
Part II: The Judicial Police
Chapter I: Members of the Judicial Police
Article 38
•	The functions of the Judicial Police are performed, under the supervision of the Public Prosecutor at the Court of Cassation, by Public Prosecutors and Advocates-General.
•	The persons listed below assist the Public Prosecution Office and work under its supervision in performing the functions of the Judicial Police, each within their own field of competence, as provided for in this Code and in the laws governing their functions:
•	
1.	Governors and district commissioners;
•	
2.	The Director-General of the Internal Security Forces, officers of the Internal Security Forces, the Judicial Police (al-Shurta al-Qidaiyya), non-commissioned officers serving in the regional sectors, and the heads of Internal Security Forces police stations;
•	
3.	The Director-General of the Sûreté Générale, officers of the Sûreté Générale and non-commissioned investigators in the Sûreté Générale; the Director-General of State Security, the Deputy Director-General, State Security officers and non-commissioned State Security investigators;
•	
4.	Village mukhtars;
•	
5.	Captains of ships, aeroplanes and aircraft.
Article 39
•	Village guards, Ministry of Health inspectors, forest rangers, and consumer protection officers, customs officers, inspectors at the Régie Libanaise des Tabacs et Tombacs, inspectors at ports and airports and at the Ministry of Tourism and night watchmen may take note of petty offences within their fields of competence and in accordance with the regulations they are required to apply, record them in duly compiled records and submit them to the competent Single Judge.
Chapter II: Procedures to be Followed by the Judicial Police in Connection with Offences Discovered in Flagrante and Offences Falling Outside this Category
Section I: Procedures to be Followed by the Judicial Police in Connection with Offences Discovered in Flagrante
Article 40
•	The Judicial Police shall follow the same procedures in the case of an offence discovered in flagrante as those followed by the Public Prosecutor, when the latter is unable to do so himself. In undertaking such procedures, the Judicial Police officer shall comply with the legal rules applicable to the Public Prosecutor when he investigates an offence discovered in flagrante.
•	Moreover, in the case of offences outside the category of in flagrante, the Judicial Police, tasked by the Public Prosecution Office, shall investigate felonies or misdemeanours that are the subject of complaints and denunciations referred to them by the Public Prosecution Office.
Article 41
•	If an in flagrante offence occurs, the Judicial Police officer shall proceed forthwith to the place where it occurred and shall inform the competent Public Prosecutor thereof. He shall preserve any traces, signs and evidence that might otherwise be lost, and anything that might assist in revealing the truth. He shall impound weapons and materials used in or resulting from the offence. He shall interview witnesses without requiring them to take an oath, and make inquiries. He shall apprehend anyone who is strongly suspected of having committed the offence or of having participated in its commission, conducting a search of his home and impounding any incriminating items or prohibited objects that he finds. He shall seek expert assistance if necessary. He may interrogate the suspect provided that the latter makes his statement in full awareness and of his own free will, and without being subjected to any form of coercion. If the suspect decides to remain silent, he may not be compelled to speak.
•	The Judicial Police officer who conducts the investigation into an offence discovered in flagrante shall inform the competent Public Prosecutor how it is proceeding, and shall comply with his instructions.
•	If the competent Public Prosecutor assigns the Judicial Police officer to perform certain acts that fall within his jurisdiction, he shall act within the parameters of that assignment.
Article 42 (as amended by Law No. 359/2001)
•	If the offence discovered in flagrante is a felony, and the investigation requires that the suspect be held in custody for a longer period, the time limit may be extended up to a maximum period of four days upon a reasoned decision in writing by the Appeal Court Public Prosecutor, who shall issue it after examining the file and verifying the justifications for the extension. During the extended period, the suspect, his counsel or any member of his family may request that he be examined by a physician. The Public Prosecutor shall appoint a competent physician as soon as the application is submitted, and the physician shall carry out the examination without a Judicial Police officer being present and shall submit his report to the Public Prosecutor within a period not exceeding twenty-four hours. In all circumstances, this period of custody shall be deducted from any sentence that may be imposed.
•	The Judicial Police officer shall observe strict confidentiality in all the procedures he follows. If it is proven that he divulged the content of impounded documents or letters or any secrets the suspect wished to remain concealed, he shall be prosecuted before the Single Criminal Judge with jurisdiction over the area in which the act complained of occurred, and shall be punished by imprisonment of between one month and one year, and/or a fine of between two hundred thousand and two million Lebanese pounds.
Article 43
•	If the Judicial Police officer considers that a person who is not under strong suspicion possesses documents or materials that are useful for the investigation, the Public Prosecutor or the Investigating Judge, and not the Judicial Police officer, shall carry out a search of the person’s home unless that person consents without coercion to a search by the Judicial Police officer.
•	Any house search carried out by the Judicial Police in violation of the rules applicable by law to the Public Prosecutor in the case of felonies discovered in flagrante shall be null. A Judicial Police officer who enters a home in violation of these rules, and undertakes a search, shall be liable to prosecution for the misdemeanour defined in Article 370 of the Criminal Code. However, the nullity shall be applicable only to the invalid procedure and not to the other investigative procedures.
Article 44
•	If the Public Prosecutor or the Investigating Judge arrives, the Judicial Police officer shall interrupt the procedures he is undertaking unless he receives written instructions from either of them to continue. This may also include questioning the suspect.
•	Once the situation pertaining to an in flagrante offence has come to an end, the Judicial Police officer shall not carry out any additional investigation, but shall transmit the records he has compiled to the Public Prosecutor forthwith, together with any items impounded during the search.
Article 45
•	In the event of an in flagrante felony or misdemeanour punishable by imprisonment, any person is entitled to apprehend the perpetrator caught in the act and to take him to the nearest Judicial Police post.
Article 46
•	If the offence discovered in flagrante is a misdemeanour punishable by imprisonment of at least one year, the Judicial Police officer may apprehend the suspect and investigate the misdemeanour under the supervision of the Public Prosecutor.
•	The Public Prosecutor may decide to detain a person charged with a misdemeanour and to bring him forthwith before the Single Judge so that he may stand trial in accordance with the rules laid down in this Code.
Section II: Measures to be Taken by the Judicial Police in Connection with Offences Falling Outside the Category of In Flagrante
Article 47 (as amended by Law No. 359/2001)
•	Judicial Police officers, acting as assistants to the Public Prosecution Office, shall perform the duties assigned to them by the Public Prosecution Office, investigating offences falling outside the category of in flagrante, collecting information about them, and making inquiries aimed at identifying the perpetrators and participants and gathering evidence against them. They also carry out actions necessitated by these duties, such as the impounding of incriminating items, the conduct of physical searches of crime scenes, the scientific and technical analysis of any traces and signs, and taking statements from witnesses without requiring them to take an oath and from persons complained of or suspects. If they refuse to make a statement or remain silent, this fact shall be mentioned in the record; they may not be coerced to speak or to undergo interrogation, on penalty of nullity of their statements.
•	Judicial Police officers shall inform the Public Prosecution Office of the procedures they undertake and shall abide by its instructions. They may not search a home or person without obtaining prior permission from the Public Prosecution Office. If permission for a search is granted, they shall comply with the rules applicable by law to the Public Prosecutor in the case of offences discovered in flagrante. Any search conducted in violation of these rules shall be null. However, the nullity shall be applicable only to the invalid procedure and not to other separate procedures.
•	Judicial Police officers may not detain a suspect in police custody without a decision by the Public Prosecution Office and the period of detention shall not exceed forty-eight hours. This period may be extended by a similar period only with the consent of the Public Prosecution Office. The period of custody shall be deducted from the period of detention.
•	The suspect or person complained of shall, from the time of being taken into custody for the purposes of the investigation, enjoy the following rights:
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1.	To contact a member of his family, his employer, a lawyer of his choosing or an acquaintance;
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2.	To meet with a lawyer he appoints by a declaration noted in the record, without the need for a duly drafted power of attorney;
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3.	To ask for the assistance of a sworn interpreter if he is not proficient in the Arabic language;
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4.	To submit a request for a medical examination to the Public Prosecutor, either directly or through his counsel or a member of his family. The Public Prosecutor shall appoint a physician as soon as the request is submitted. No Judicial Police officer shall be present when the physician carries out the examination. The physician shall submit his report to the Public Prosecutor within a period not exceeding twenty-four hours. A copy of the report shall be provided to the requester by the Public Prosecutor upon receipt thereof. The party being held in custody and any of the above-mentioned persons may request a new examination if the period of custody is extended.
•	The Judicial Police shall inform the suspect, as soon as he is taken into custody, of the rights set out above and this measure shall be noted in the record.
Article 48
•	If a Judicial Police officer breaches the rules concerning the custody of the defendant or suspect, he shall be liable to prosecution for the offence of unlawful detention as set out in and punishable by Article 367 of the Criminal Code, in addition to the disciplinary sanction, irrespective of whether or not the offence was discovered in flagrante.
Article 49
•	The Public Prosecutor may conduct the preliminary investigation himself. If he does, the suspect’s counsel may be present with his client during interrogation.
Article 50
•	The Public Prosecutor may decide not to proceed with the preliminary investigation if he considers that the act does not constitute an offence, that there is insufficient evidence that an offence has occurred, or that the public prosecution has lapsed for one of the reasons set out in Article 10 of this Code.
•	The Public Prosecutor who brings charges in a case is not entitled to undertake an investigation or to deliver a judgement thereon.
Part III: Investigating Judges and Their Functions
Chapter I: Organisation of Investigation Departments
Article 51
•	An Investigation Department composed of a First Investigating Judge and Investigating Judges is attached to each Appeal Court. The Investigation Department is headed by the First Investigating Judge.
•	The submission containing the charges of the Public Prosecution Office is filed with the First Investigating Judge.
•	Lawsuits brought directly by persons aggrieved by offences, as well as their actions as partie civile, are also submitted to him.
•	The First Investigating Judge investigates important cases himself and may assign other cases to the Investigating Judges in his department.
•	He oversees the smooth running of his department.
Article 52
•	An Investigating Judge to whom a case is referred may not refuse to investigate it. He may, however, recuse himself. Any party to the litigation may request that he be disqualified.
•	The rules laid down in the Code of Civil Procedure shall be applicable to anyone who makes a request for recusation or disqualification.
•	If an Investigating Judge is prevented by any impediment from performing his duties, the First Presiding Judge of the Appeal Court shall appoint a Judge to replace him.
•	The Investigating Judge who investigates a case is not entitled to try the case or to participate in the judgement thereon.
Article 53
•	The investigation shall remain confidential until such time as the case is referred for trial, except for the committal order. Anyone who breaches the confidentiality of the investigation shall be liable to prosecution before the Single Judge in whose area of jurisdiction the act occurred; he shall be punishable by imprisonment of between one month and one year and/or a fine of between one hundred thousand and one million Lebanese pounds.
Article 54
•	Appeals against the Investigating Judge’s decisions lie with the Indictment Chamber, which has sole authority to issue indictments in the case of felonies and exercises the right of evocation in cases specified by law.
Chapter II: Functions of the Investigating Judge in the Case of Offences Discovered in Flagrante
Article 55
•	In the event of an offence discovered in flagrante, the Investigating Judge shall proceed to the crime scene and initiate an investigation without waiting for the Public Prosecutor. If the Public Prosecutor arrives at the scene, he may not participate in the investigation or conduct a parallel investigation of the same case. He may, however, submit any request he sees fit. If he was the first to arrive at the crime scene and initiated an investigation, he shall cease it and comply with the provisions of Article 36 of this Code.
The Investigating Judge shall be accompanied to the crime
scene by the clerk of his department. If he requests the assistance of
a clerk from the Judicial Police, the latter shall take an oath to
perform his work truly and faithfully and to preserve the
confidentiality of the investigation.

Article 56
•	The Investigating Judge shall exercise, in the case of a felony discovered in flagrante, all the prerogatives enjoyed by the Public Prosecutor. He shall carry out all the acts and procedures assigned to the latter and specified in Articles 31, 32, 33, 34 and 35 of this Code.
Article 57
•	On completion of the procedures required by the investigation of a felony discovered in flagrante, the Investigating Judge shall hand over the documents to the Public Prosecutor, who shall bring charges against the suspects and file his submissions.
•	After the Public Prosecution Office brings charges, the Investigating Judge shall exercise his duties in accordance with the ordinary rules.
•	The Public Prosecutor may examine the file pertaining to the investigation at any time and submit his requests in writing. The Investigating Judge shall examine them and decide to accept or reject them. If he rejects them, he shall inform the Public Prosecutor thereof. The latter is entitled to file an appeal with the Indictment Chamber against any decision contrary to his submission. The Investigating Judge must abide by the Indictment Chamber’s decision on the appeal.
Article 58
•	In the case of an in flagrante misdemeanour which is punishable by at least one year of imprisonment, the Public Prosecutor may ask the Investigating Judge to proceed to the scene of the misdemeanour to conduct an on-site investigation.
•	The Investigating Judge shall oversee the procedures undertaken in the investigation of a felony discovered in flagrante.
Chapter III: Functions of the Investigating Judge in the Case of Offences Not Falling Into the Category of In Flagrante
Section I: General Provisions
Article 59
•	Outside the case of an offence discovered in flagrante, the Investigating Judge may not conduct an investigation, unless he is seized of the public prosecution on the basis of charges brought by the Public Prosecution Office, a direct complaint in which the aggrieved party assumes the status of partie civile, a decision to designate the competent authority or a decision to transfer the case.
Article 60
•	The Investigating Judge shall conduct the public prosecution in rem. He may question as a defendant anyone suspected of having committed the offence as a perpetrator, co-perpetrator, accomplice or instigator independently of the charges brought by the Public Prosecution Office.
•	If, in the course of the investigation, he discovers criminal acts unconnected to the alleged act, he shall transmit the file to the Public Prosecutor so that he may bring the relevant charges. However, if the offences discovered are connected to the alleged act, he may investigate them even in the absence of prior charges.
Article 61
•	The Investigating Judge must use lawful means in undertaking all investigative procedures aimed at establishing the truth. He shall record all measures undertaken in writing.
•	If the investigation requires a physical inspection of the crime scene, the Investigating Judge shall proceed to the scene together with the clerk of his department. He shall inform the Public Prosecutor of this action without waiting for him, and shall conduct the inspection in accordance with the rules.
Section II: Charges Submitted to the Investigating Judge by the Public Prosecution Office at the Court of Appeal
Article 62
•	In the charges he submits to the First Investigating Judge the Public Prosecutor shall include a description of the offence, specify the identity of all those who participated in its commission, the place in which the criminal act occurred and the time of its occurrence, and state his requests.
•	If he has been unable to identify all the participants in the offence, he shall bring charges against those identified or against a person unknown.
•	The Public Prosecutor’s charges shall initiate a public prosecution, brought either by himself or by one of the Advocates-General.
•	The Public Prosecutor shall attach to the charges the supporting documents, records and materials.
Article 63
•	The Investigating Judge may not refuse to proceed with the public prosecution initiated by the Public Prosecutor’s charges unless it is proven that the alleged act does not constitute a criminal offence or that the public prosecution has lapsed on a specific legal ground. He shall not take such a decision without consulting the Public Prosecutor.
•	He may decide to stay the public prosecution by a decision taken after consulting the Public Prosecutor, if he ascertains that another Investigating Judge is already seized of the same investigation or an investigation into a connected offence.
Article 64
•	The Investigating Judge may not quash the charges brought by the Public Prosecution Office at the Appeal Court if he finds they contain a defect that is liable to render his handling of the case unsound. However, he may decide to refrain from conducting an investigation on account of the defect. If the Public Prosecutor decides not to rectify the defect, he shall appeal the Investigating Judge’s decision before the Indictment Chamber.
Article 65
•	The Investigating Judge may, after consulting the Public Prosecution Office, decide that he lacks competence to investigate the case if it falls outside his territorial or ratione materiae jurisdiction, or on account of the status of the defendant. His decision in this regard may be appealed before the Indictment Chamber.
Article 66
•	The Public Prosecutor may file supplementary charges in respect of acts that were omitted from his original statement of charges, and against persons omitted from that statement or from his subsequent statement. The Investigating Judge shall question the persons concerned as defendants and treat them as such throughout the investigation.
Article 67
•	The party aggrieved by an offence may file civil charges with the Investigating Judge subsequent to the public prosecution initiated by the statement of charges of the Public Prosecution Office.
•	He is required to elect a domicile in the city or town in which the Investigating Judge’s office is located if his actual domicile is not in that location. Should he fail to do so, he may not object if he is not served with the documents to which he is legally entitled.
•	The victim may be fully or partially exempted from paying the costs of the proceedings, even in the event of a decision to stay the prosecution of the defendant, if it is demonstrated that he did not abuse the right to bring an action.
Section III: Lawsuit Filed Before the Investigating Judge by the Party Directly Aggrieved by an Offence
Article 68
•	Anyone aggrieved by a felony or misdemeanour may file a complaint directly before the First Investigating Judge who has jurisdiction over the area in which the offence was committed, the place of residence of the defendant, or the place in which he was apprehended. The aggrieved party may assume the status of a civil party.
•	The complaint shall be recorded in the registry of the First Investigating Judge, who shall determine the costs to be paid in advance, comprising legal fees and costs, which shall not exceed one per cent of the amount being claimed. In addition, he shall instruct the complainant, if he is a foreign national, to present surety in the form of money or property, the amount of which shall be determined in his decision.
•	The complainant shall be exempted from paying an advance if the alleged offence is a felony.
•	If the act is a misdemeanour, the Investigating Judge may exempt the complainant from paying an advance if he is financially unfit to do so. He may also exempt a foreign complainant from paying surety on the same ground, by a reasoned decision.
•	The complaint filed by a complainant who acquires the status of a civil party and who makes the required payment, unless exempted therefrom, automatically initiates a public prosecution. If either of these two conditions is not met, it shall be regarded as a denunciation and referred to the Public Prosecutor for a decision on whether to initiate a public prosecution.
•	The complainant may withdraw the civil action. If he does so within two working days of the date of his complaint, he shall not be liable for the costs of withdrawal. His withdrawal shall not affect the course of the public prosecution except in cases where the extinction of the civil action leads to the extinction of the public prosecution.
Article 69
•	The First Investigating Judge shall personally undertake the investigation into a direct complaint, however he may assign it to an Investigating Judge in his department.
•	The Judge handling the direct complaint shall initiate the investigation after consulting the Office of the Public Prosecutor at the Court of Appeal. However, he shall not be bound by its opinion if it involves a refusal to proceed with a public prosecution already initiated by a civil action in accordance with the provisions of Article 68, paragraph 4, of this Code. He shall serve a copy of the complaint and its attachments upon the defendant at least twenty-four hours before questioning him.
Article 70
•	The Public Prosecutor may challenge the capacity of the civil party to sue before carrying out the investigation. The defendant or his counsel may raise this motion prior to the questioning.
•	The Investigating Judge, after informing the civil party of the motion and giving him twenty-four hours to respond, shall rule on the motion after consulting the Office of the Public Prosecutor at the Court of Appeal.
Article 71
•	If the Public Prosecutor finds that the complaint is unclear, he may request the Investigating Judge to proceed with the investigation forthwith before deciding on his position vis-à-vis the complaint. In this circumstance, the Investigating Judge shall question the persons designated in the complaint as defendants, and shall interview the witnesses. He shall then transmit the file to the Public Prosecutor so that he can decide whether to prosecute. The Investigating Judge may, on obtaining evidence that persons interviewed as witnesses participated in the offence, question them as defendants provided that he abides by the provisions of Article 61 of this Code.
Article 72
•	If the Investigating Judge decides to stay proceedings against a person designated by the complainant, the defendant may apply to the Single Criminal Judge for an award of compensation for damages against the civil party for abuse of his right to bring an action. He shall bring his action within three months of the date of being notified of the decision to stay the prosecution, failing which it shall be inadmissible.
Chapter IV: Investigative Measures
Section I: Procedural Motions
Article 73
•	The defendant, or his counsel in the absence of his client, and the Public Prosecution Office, may raise one or more of the following motions once only prior to the questioning of the defendant:
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1.	Motion challenging jurisdiction;
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2.	Motion to extinguish the case on one of the legally established grounds of extinguishment;
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3.	Motion of inadmissibility of the case on a ground that precludes hearing or proceeding with the case before its substance is examined;
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4.	Motion on the ground that the act charged does not constitute a legally punishable offence;
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5.	Motion of lis pendens or of connected cases;
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6.	Motion of res judicata;
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7.	Motion of nullity of one or more investigative procedures.
•	The Investigating Judge, after hearing the civil party and consulting the Public Prosecution Office, shall rule on the motion within a week of the date on which it was filed.
•	Any party to the case may appeal his decision.
Section II: Questioning of the Defendant
Article 74
•	The Investigating Judge shall verify the defendant’s identity and ascertain his first name and family name, his age, his place of birth, his parents’ names, his place of residence, his social and civil status and his criminal record. He may seek the assistance of psychiatric and medical experts in assessing the defendant’s mental and physical health. If the defendant or his counsel requests a psychological or physical examination, the Investigating Judge may deny the request only on the basis of a reasoned decision.
Article 75
•	The Investigating Judge shall question the defendant in his department unless the latter is unable to attend owing to illness, disability or some other valid excuse. If such an impediment exists, the Investigating Judge shall travel from his department, together with his clerk, to the place in which the defendant can be questioned in accordance with the rules set out below.
Article 76
•	When the defendant appears before him for the first time, the Investigating Judge shall inform him of the charges against him, summarizing the facts and informing him of the evidence in his possession or of the suspicions against him, so that the defendant can refute them and mount a defence. The Investigating Judge is not required to provide him with a legal qualification of the facts.
•	The Investigating Judge shall inform the defendant of his rights, particularly the right to the assistance of one lawyer during the questioning.
•	If the Investigating Judge fails to inform the defendant of the charges against him, as set out above, or to inform him of his right to the assistance of a lawyer, this shall lead to the nullity of the questioning and its inadmissibility as evidence.
Article 77
•	The Investigating Judge shall respect the principle of the defendant’s exercise of free will during the questioning and shall ascertain that he is making his statement without any outside influence of a moral or material nature.
•	If the defendant refuses to respond and chooses to remain silent, the Investigating Judge may not compel him to speak.
Article 78
•	If the defendant declines the assistance of a lawyer, the Investigating Judge is not required to appoint a lawyer on his behalf. This fact shall be recorded on pain of nullity of the questioning and of the subsequent procedures. He shall question him in the absence of a lawyer and proceed with the investigative procedures.
•	If the defendant chooses a lawyer to defend him, the Investigating Judge may not question him or continue with the investigative procedures unless the lawyer is present and is informed of all the investigative acts except for the witnesses’ statements, on pain of nullity of the questioning and of the subsequent procedures. If the defendant is unable to appoint a lawyer, the Investigating Judge shall appoint one or ask the President of the Bar Association to do so.
•	This notice inviting the lawyer to attend shall be sent at least one day before the questioning. The Investigating Judge’s clerk shall note this measure in the record, mentioning the date on which notice was served. If the lawyer is not notified before the date of the hearing, his presence during the questioning, without raising an objection to the failure to serve notice, shall preclude the nullity of the questioning.
•	If the appointed lawyer fails to attend without a lawful excuse in spite of being duly informed of the date of the hearing, the Investigating Judge may proceed with the questioning.
Article 79
•	Before each round of questioning after the preliminary questioning, the Investigating Judge shall ask the defendant whether he still consents to being questioned without the assistance of a lawyer, and shall note this measure in the record on pain of nullity of the examination in question and the subsequent measures.
•	The defendant may communicate freely with his lawyer throughout the investigation period. Their communications shall be confidential. Any evidence resulting from a breach of the principle of confidentiality shall not be taken into consideration.
Article 80
•	As an exception to the provisions of Articles 78 and 79 of this Code, the Investigating Judge may take a reasoned decision to begin questioning the defendant forthwith if there is a risk that a trace or evidence may disappear.
•	He may question the defendant without the presence of a lawyer in the case of an offence discovered in flagrante, or the equivalent thereof.
Article 81
•	If the defendant’s counsel is present during the questioning, he may not put any questions to his client or the opposing party except through the Investigating Judge. He is permitted to make certain observations and to object to any aspect of the Investigating Judge’s questioning which, in his view, breaches the rules governing the investigation. If the Investigating Judge does not permit the lawyer to speak, to put a question, to make observations or to raise objections, this fact shall be noted in the record of the questioning.
•	The Public Prosecutor or one of his assistants may attend the questioning of the defendant, and he may raise questions or make observations through the Investigating Judge.
•	If the defendant is not proficient in the Arabic language, the Investigating Judge shall appoint an interpreter, who shall begin his duties after taking an oath to perform his activities sincerely and faithfully.
•	If the defendant is mute, deaf or unable to express himself, the Investigating Judge shall appoint a person who can communicate with him in sign language or in some other way after taking an oath to perform his activities sincerely and faithfully. If a deaf or mute person is able to write, the questions and his answers shall be recorded in writing. The paper recording his answers shall be attached to the record of questioning.
•	The civil party, the person incurring civil liability and the guarantor may be present during the questioning of the defendant or may appoint a lawyer for the purpose. They may each put questions and make observations through the Investigating Judge.
•	If there are several defendants in the case, it is not permissible for one of them or for his counsel to attend the questioning of the other defendants, except during confrontations between the defendants.
Article 82
•	If the Investigating Judge has questioned the defendant about an offence as though it constituted a misdemeanour and then ascertains that it should be qualified as a felony, he shall repeat the questioning and tell the defendant that he is entitled to the assistance of a lawyer if he has not appointed one to defend him.
•	Subject to the provisions of the penultimate paragraph of Article 81 of this Code, the defendant, the civil party, the person incurring civil liability and the guarantor or their counsel may attend the investigative proceedings, except for the hearings of witnesses. They shall each be notified of the proceedings at least twenty-four hours before the investigative measures concerning them. Otherwise the measures undertaken in their absence shall be null.
•	If persons who were to be summoned present themselves without objecting to the manner in which they were notified or to the failure to comply with the twenty-four hour time limit, the investigative proceedings shall be deemed to be valid.
•	The person incurring civil liability and the guarantor shall each elect a domicile within the city or town in which the Investigating Judge’s department is located, if they have no actual domicile there, for the service of documents and memoranda. If they fail to do so, they may not then object to the failure to serve the documents of which they should be legally notified.
•	Each of the aforementioned persons shall inform the Investigating Judge in writing of any change in their actual or elected domicile. If these persons fail to do so, notices served at the domicile recorded in the case file shall be valid.
Article 83
•	The Investigating Judge may decide to prohibit communication for a period not exceeding five days with a defendant who is being held in custody. The prohibition shall not be applicable to communications between the defendant and his lawyer.
•	If an arrest warrant issued in the defendant’s absence is executed, the Investigating Judge, on being apprised of the arrest, shall summon the detained defendant and question him concerning the charges against him, provided he complies with the rules set out above.
Article 84
•	If a defendant who resides outside the Investigating Judge’s area of jurisdiction presents a lawful excuse for his inability to present himself before him, the Investigating Judge may delegate the interrogation of that defendant to the Investigating Judge or the Single Judge with jurisdiction over the defendant’s place of residence. He may not delegate a Judicial Police officer for this purpose.
Article 85
•	If the case requires the hearing of statements from the President of the Republic, the Speaker of the House or the Prime Minister, the Investigating Judge and his clerk shall proceed to the relevant office and take his statement.
Section III: Hearing of Witnesses
Article 86
- The Investigating Judge shall summon the persons whose
names appear in the complaint or the denunciation, or whose names
arise during the investigations, as well as anybody else who, in his
view, possesses information that could assist the investigation.
– He need not summon a witness named by the civil party
or the defendant if he considers that the hearing would serve no
purpose. However, if he declines to hear a witness named by the
Public Prosecution Office, he shall take a reasoned decision in that
regard.
– The summons shall be served on the witness at least
twenty-four hours before the time set for the hearing.
– Notice shall be served on members of the diplomatic or
consular service through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
– Summonses to members of the armed forces shall be
served through their respective commands.
– If the witness resides abroad, the summons shall be
served by registered mail with acknowledgement of receipt.
– If he is in custody, the witness shall be brought in under
escort.
Article 87 - Before being heard, the witness shall present the
summons he received, and this shall be noted in the record. If he
attends before being summoned, he may not refuse to make a
statement on the ground that he was not notified of the time of his
appearance.
The Investigating Judge shall interview each witness
individually, in the presence of his clerk.

The Investigating Judge shall first ask the witness to state his
first name and family name, the names of his parents, his age and
profession, his domicile or residence, and whether he is married to,
in the service of or related to one of the parties, asking him to specify
the degree of kinship. He shall then require him to take the following
oath: “I swear by Almighty God to tell the truth, the whole truth and
nothing but the truth.” This shall be noted in the record.
The witness shall make his statement orally and may rely on
supporting documents.
The statement of each witness shall be written in a record
containing the questions put to him and his answers
The witness’s statement shall be read to him and he shall
approve it, signing it on each page. If he refuses to sign or is unable
to do so, this shall be noted in the record.
The number of pages constituting the witness’s statement
shall be noted at the end of the record. The Investigating Judge and
his clerk shall sign each page. A list of the names of the persons
heard and the dates of the hearings shall be noted in the initial
record.
If exhibits are shown to the witness, this shall be noted in the
record.
The same rules of procedure shall be applicable to hearings
of statements by the civil party, the defendant, the person incurring
civil liability, the guarantor and the expert.
Only the party aggrieved by a breach of one of the above-
mentioned rules may request that the record be annulled.
Article 88
•	If the witness is not proficient in the Arabic language, the Investigating Judge shall appoint an interpreter, who shall take an oath to perform his duties sincerely and faithfully before starting work, unless he is already a sworn interpreter.
Article 89
•	If the witness makes a false statement, denies the truth or conceals some or all of what he knows regarding the facts of the case about which he is being questioned, the Investigating Judge shall refer the record of his statement to the Office of the Public Prosecutor so that he may be prosecuted for the offence of false testimony, as provided for in Article 408 of the Criminal Code.
Article 90
•	The record of the investigation shall contain no deletions, annotations or additions.
•	If it is necessary to cross out or insert a word, the Investigating Judge, the clerk and the witness shall express their approval of the deletion, annotation or addition by signing the margin of the record.
•	Any unapproved annotation, deletion or addition shall be null, and the provisions of the last paragraph of Article 87 of this Code shall be applicable thereto.
Article 91
•	The Investigating Judge shall hear minors under 18 years of age for information purposes.
•	If a minor over 15 years of age has taken a legal oath, his statement shall not be invalid and he may not be prosecuted for the offence of false testimony.
•	The ascendants and descendants of the defendant, his brothers and sisters, his relatives by marriage of the same degree as brothers, his spouse even if they are divorced, and informants who are legally entitled to financial reward for their denunciation, are not allowed to testify.
•	The Investigating Judge may hear a statement from any of the aforementioned persons for information purposes.
Article 92
•	A witness may not be exempted from testifying unless he demonstrates that he is legally bound to secrecy.
•	If the Investigating Judge ascertains that the witness’s plea of professional or banking secrecy is legally inappropriate, he shall take a reasoned decision, after consulting the Office of the Public Prosecutor at the Court of Appeal, to dismiss the plea. The witness may file an appeal against the decision within twenty-four hours of the date on which he is notified thereof.
•	Any person who possesses information that might shed light on the investigation is required to testify before the Investigating Judge. If he fails to do so, he shall be liable to a fine of between one hundred thousand and two hundred thousand Lebanese pounds, payable in the same manner as Amiri revenue. If the information in question is likely to prove the innocence of the defendant, a person who fails to testify or who withholds proof of its existence shall be liable to prosecution pursuant to Article 567 of the Criminal Code, as amended.
Article 93
•	The Investigating Judge shall order that the witness be reimbursed for his travel expenses and the party who requested his presence shall be liable for payment. In the case of a public prosecution, the Treasury shall be liable for payment.
Article 94
•	If the witness resides outside his area of jurisdiction, the Investigating Judge may delegate the Investigating Judge or Single Judge in whose area of jurisdiction the witness resides to take his statement.
•	The delegating Judge shall define for the delegated Judge, clearly and in detail, the facts about which the witness should be questioned. The delegated Judge shall duly hear the witness’s statement, once the latter has taken the oath, and shall send the record containing the statement in a sealed envelope to the delegating Judge as speedily as possible.
Article 95
•	Any person who has been duly notified of his duty to appear before the Investigating Judge to testify is under an obligation to do so.
•	If he fails to appear without a lawful excuse, the Investigating Judge shall send a further summons to attend the next hearing after imposing a fine of between fifty thousand and one hundred thousand Lebanese pounds. If he again fails to appear, an enforceable summons shall be issued to have him brought before the Investigating Judge. If the witness pleads illness and provides a doctor’s certificate in support of his inability to appear, the Investigating Judge may dismiss the excuse if he considers that it is not serious, or he may appoint another physician or medical panel to examine the witness and determine whether his state of health prevents him from appearing.
•	If an excuse other than illness is raised and it appears to the Investigating Judge that it is fallacious, he shall compile a report and refer it to the Public Prosecution Office so that the witness may be prosecuted pursuant to Article 407 of the Criminal Code.
Article 96
•	If the witness is unable to appear in the office of the Investigating Judge on account of illness, disability or force majeure, the Judge may travel to his place of residence and take his statement, in the presence of his clerk.
Article 97
•	In the absence of his clerk or a clerk of the Investigation Department, the Public Prosecution Office or the courts, the Investigating Judge may appoint a non-commissioned officer from the Internal Security Forces, who shall record the witness’s statement after taking an oath to perform his assignment sincerely and faithfully.
Section IV: Travelling, Searching and the Impounding of Evidence
Article 98
•	The Investigating Judge may travel with his clerk to carry out an inspection of the crime scene or to search a residence for incriminating items or objects capable of shedding light on the investigation. He shall inform the Public Prosecutor of his movements. If the latter accompanies him, he shall conduct the inspection and search in his presence; if he does not, he shall conduct them alone.
•	The inspection or search shall be conducted in the presence of the civil party and the defendant. If one of them is not present or is unable to attend, it shall be conducted in the presence of his counsel, or two witnesses who are members of his family or two witnesses chosen by the Investigating Judge.
•	The Investigating Judge shall compile a detailed record of the inspection or the search, which shall be signed by himself, his clerk and all those present. If incriminating items or objects of interest to the investigation are impounded, he shall include a sufficiently detailed description of the nature of each item. He shall preserve the items and objects as befits their nature, placing them under the seal of the Investigation Department and attaching a label listing the impounded items, signed by the Investigating Judge, his clerk and those present.
•	If the impounded items are registers, documents or statements of account, they shall be placed in sealed envelopes bearing the seal of the Investigation Department, and kept at the Department after having been labelled with a list of their contents.
•	If the impounded items consist of bullion, banknotes or securities, they shall be placed in envelopes bearing the seal of the Investigation Department, labelled with a detailed record of the contents, and deposited in the Palace of Justice vault.
Article 99
•	If the impounded objects include any article that cannot be transported to the Investigation Department or the secure depository at the Palace of Justice because of its size or dangerous nature, the Investigating Judge shall deposit it with whichever party he deems best suited to look after it. This shall be noted in a record signed by the Investigating Judge, his clerk, the owner of the impounded object and the person with whom it has been deposited.
Article 100
•	When prosecuting a lawyer, the Investigating Judge may not search his office without first informing the President of the Bar Association, except in the case of an offence discovered in flagrante.
•	The Investigating Judge shall not breach professional secrecy during the search.
•	The President of the Bar Association or a person designated by him may be present during the search.
•	Any interception of the suspected lawyer’s communications shall require a judicial decision and prior notification of the President of the Bar Association.
Article 101
•	If the Investigating Judge finds prohibited objects during the search, the acquisition or possession of which constitutes a misdemeanour or a felony, he shall impound them, even if they are unrelated to the offence being investigated, note this fact in a record signed by himself, his clerk and anyone present during the search, and send the objects together with the record to the Public Prosecution Office.
Article 102
•	Seals placed on impounded objects held in safekeeping may be broken only in the presence of the Investigating Judge, his clerk, the defendant or his counsel, and the person who searched his home or in whose presence the search was undertaken. If any of the aforementioned persons fails to appear, the seals shall be broken in their absence provided that they were informed of the time set for the procedure.
•	The Investigating Judge may examine telegrams and correspondence and keep those which he deems necessary to shed light on the truth or which, if seen by third parties, might prove harmful to the investigation. He may not reveal the contents of any impounded telegram or correspondence without the consent of the party concerned.
•	The Investigating Judge may not examine correspondence between the defendant and his counsel.
Article 103
•	If the Investigating Judge considers that the investigation will not be served by keeping some or all of the impounded objects, he shall return them to the legal claimant unless the claim is subject to a legal dispute. If there is a serious dispute regarding the right of ownership or possession of an impounded object that may be returned, the Investigating Judge shall defer its return until the dispute has been settled.
•	If the civil party or the defendant requests the return of an impounded object, the Investigating Judge shall rule on the request after consulting the opposing party and the Public Prosecution Office. An appeal against his decision in this regard may be filed within twenty-four hours of the date on which he informs the party to the dispute against whom the decision was taken.
Article 104
•	If the Investigating Judge wishes to search a home located outside his area of jurisdiction, he shall delegate the Investigating Judge or the Single Judge in whose jurisdiction the home is located.
•	He shall describe the assignment clearly and in detail. The delegated Judge shall undertake the assignment and abide by the rules governing the impounding of incriminating items or objects useful to the investigation. He shall compile a record thereof, sign it together with his clerk and the owner of the residence or two witnesses, and send it with the impounded goods to the delegating Judge in a sealed envelope bearing the seal of his department, attaching a label listing the impounded goods.
Article 105
•	Any search undertaken in breach of the rules set out above shall be null. Any investigative measures based thereon shall also be null.
•	The nullity shall not preclude the use of any available information which results from the search and is useful to the investigation, if it includes supporting evidence.
•	This procedure shall not be null if the aggrieved party consents thereto.
Chapter V: Decisions Issued by the Investigating Judge During the Investigation
Section I: Summonses, Enforceable Summonses and Arrest Orders
Article 106
•	The Investigating Judge may issue a summons to the civil party, defendant, witness, person incurring civil liability or guarantor to attend a hearing, specifying the date and time.
•	The defendant shall proceed to the Investigating Judge’s department on being served with the summons and shall appear before him. If he fails to appear, without presenting a legitimate excuse, or if the Investigating Judge fears that he may abscond, an enforceable summons shall be issued, containing a written order to the security forces to ensure his presence within twenty-four hours of the date of the scheduled hearing.
•	The Public Prosecution Office shall implement the enforceable summons.
Article 107
•	The Investigating Judge shall question the summoned defendant forthwith. A defendant against whom an enforceable summons has been issued shall be questioned within twenty-four hours of the time of execution of that summons.
•	After twenty-four hours have elapsed, the officer in charge of police custody shall automatically conduct the defendant to the Public Prosecutor, who shall request the Investigating Judge to question him. If the latter refuses, if he is absent or if he is precluded from questioning the defendant by a lawful impediment, the Public Prosecutor shall request the First Investigating Judge to question him or to appoint an Investigating Judge to do so. If it proves impossible to question the defendant, the Public Prosecutor shall order his immediate release. If he is held in custody for more than twenty-four hours without being brought before the Public Prosecutor, the detention shall be deemed arbitrary and the responsible officer shall be prosecuted for the offence of deprivation of personal liberty.
•	After questioning the defendant and consulting the Public Prosecution Office, the Investigating Judge may issue an arrest order if the offence with which the defendant is charged is punishable by more than one year’s imprisonment or if he has a previous criminal conviction or has been sentenced to more than three months’ imprisonment without suspension.
•	The arrest order shall be reasoned and the Investigating Judge shall state the factual and material grounds supporting his decision to issue it, whether the reason is that provisional detention is the only way to preserve evidence or incriminating material traces, to prevent the coercion of witnesses or victims, or to prevent the defendant from communicating with co-perpetrators, accomplices or instigators, or whether the purpose of the arrest is to protect the defendant himself, to terminate the effect of the offence or to prevent its recurrence, to prevent the defendant from absconding or to preclude any breach of public order arising from the offence.
•	The summons issued to the defendant, the enforceable summons and the arrest order must state his identity and the date on which it was issued. It must contain a qualification of the offence with which he is charged and the legal provision applicable thereto, and bear the signature of the Investigating Judge who issued it and the seal of his department.
•	The defendant shall be served with the enforceable summons and the arrest order upon execution, even if he is detained for another offence, and shall be given a copy of the notice served.
•	If the rules governing the enforceable summons and the arrest order set out above are breached, the clerk shall be fined a maximum of two million Lebanese pounds by a decision of the court that is informed of the breach.
•	The defendant may file an appeal against the Judge’s order to arrest him within twenty-four hours of the date of notification.
•	The appeal against the order shall not stay its enforcement.
•	If the defendant has absconded, the Investigating Judge may issue a reasoned order to arrest him in absentia.
•	If it proves impossible to enforce an arrest order issued against a defendant in absentia, he shall be notified thereof through the posting of a copy at the entrance to his most recent place of residence in the presence of the local mukhtar or two neighbours serving as witnesses, and this measure shall be recorded.
Article 108 (as amended by Law No. 111 of 26 June 2010)
•	With the exception of a person previously sentenced to at least one year’s imprisonment, the period of detention for a misdemeanour may not exceed two months. This period may be extended by, at a maximum, a similar period where absolutely necessary.
•	With the exception of homicide, felonies involving drugs and attacks against State security, felonies which represent a global danger and offences of terrorism, and cases of detained persons with a previous criminal conviction, the period of detention may not exceed six months for a felony. This period may be renewed once on the basis of a reasoned decision.
•	The Investigating Judge may decide to prohibit the defendant from travelling for a period not exceeding two months for a misdemeanour and a year for a felony, from the date of being released or set at liberty.
Article 109
•	A person who is apprehended pursuant to an arrest order issued in absentia shall be conveyed without delay to the Public Prosecution Office in the department of the Investigating Judge who issued the warrant. The Public Prosecution Office shall give the officer who enforced the warrant a receipt that it has received the arrested person. It shall have the latter conveyed to the place of detention and shall inform the Investigating Judge of the arrest.
•	The Investigating Judge shall have the arrested person brought before him forthwith and shall question him in accordance with the provisions of Articles 74 et sequitur of this Code.
Article 110
•	The Investigating Judge may decide, in the course of the investigative proceedings, irrespective of the nature of the offence, to withdraw an arrest warrant, with the consent of the Public Prosecutor, provided that the defendant elects a domicile in the city or town in which the Investigating Judge’s office is located if he has no actual domicile there, so that he may be notified of all procedures pertaining to the investigation and to enforcement of the judgement.
Article 111
•	After consulting the Public Prosecution Office, the Investigating Judge may, irrespective of the nature of the offence, decide to place the defendant under judicial supervision as an alternative to detention, with one or more of the following conditions that he may consider necessary, notably:
•	(a) To reside in a specified town, borough or village, not to leave it and to elect a domicile therein;
•	(b) Not to frequent certain locations or places;
•	(c) To deposit his passport with the registry of the Investigation Department and to notify the Sûreté Générale thereof;
•	(d) To undertake not to move outside the area of supervision and to report regularly to the supervisory office;
•	(e) Not to engage in certain professional activities which the Investigating Judge has prohibited during the period of supervision;
•	(f) To undergo regular medical examinations and laboratory analyses during a period specified by the Investigating Judge;
•	(g) To deposit surety, the amount of which shall be determined by the Investigating Judge.
•	The Investigating Judge may amend the supervisory obligations he imposes as he sees fit.
•	If the defendant breaches one of the supervisory obligations imposed on him, the Investigating Judge may decide, after consulting the Public Prosecution Office, to issue an arrest warrant against him and to forfeit the surety to the Treasury.
Article 112
•	A defendant placed under judicial supervision may request that it be lifted. The Investigating Judge shall rule on his request, after consulting the Public Prosecution Office, within a period not exceeding three days from the date on which it was recorded by the registry of the Investigation Department. His decision may be appealed before the Indictment Chamber, in accordance with the rules applicable to appeals against decisions by the Investigating Judge.
Section II: Release Orders
Article 113
•	Where an offence is a misdemeanour carrying a maximum penalty of two years’ imprisonment and the defendant is Lebanese and resident in Lebanon, he is automatically entitled to be released five days after the date of his arrest provided that he has not previously been convicted of an infamous offence or sentenced to imprisonment for at least one year.
•	The released defendant shall undertake to attend all proceedings pertaining to the investigation and to the trial, as well as the enforcement of the judgement.
Article 114
•	In the case of all other offences, if the conditions automatically entitling the defendant to be released have not been met, the Investigating Judge may decide, after consulting the Public Prosecution Office, to release him from detention, with or without surety, if he files a request and undertakes therein to attend all proceedings pertaining to the investigation, the trial and enforcement of the judgement.
•	The surety shall include:
•	(a) Attendance by the defendant at all proceedings pertaining to the investigation, the trial and enforcement of the judgement;
•	(b) Fines and court fees;
•	(c) The costs advanced by the civil party;
•	(d) A portion of the personal damages.
•	The Investigating Judge shall specify the amount and type of surety and the sum payable for each constituent part. He may modify the amount or type if necessary.
Article 115
•	The defendant or his counsel shall file the request for release with the Investigating Judge before the issue of the committal order.
•	A copy of the application shall be served on the civil party at his elected domicile so that he may make observations thereon within twenty-four hours of the date of notification.
•	After a period of twenty-four hours has elapsed from the time of notification of the civil party, the application shall be referred to the Public Prosecutor for his opinion. The Investigating Judge shall take a decision in line with or contrary to that of the Public
Prosecutor as soon as the file is returned to him.
Article 116
•	The surety may take the form of cash, state bonds, a bank or commercial guarantee, or a title to real property.
•	If it consists of cash or state bonds, it shall be deposited in the Palace of Justice vault against a receipt.
•	If it consists of a bank guarantee, a letter of guarantee shall be issued by the bank standing surety and duly incorporated in the case file. The initial record shall indicate the date and time of receipt, the name of the bank standing surety, the amount indicated in the letter of guarantee and the record number of the letter.
•	If the surety consists of a commercial guarantee, a letter of guarantee shall be issued by the commercial body, be it an individual, an institution or a corporation. The initial record of the Investigating Judge shall record the name and address of the party standing surety and the amount indicated in the letter of guarantee. In addition, a reference to the letter of guarantee shall be placed in the file of the party standing surety in the commercial register.
•	If the surety consists of a title to real property, it shall be accompanied by a report compiled by a sworn expert containing the number of the property, its location and area, and a detailed estimate of its worth. A reference to this title shall be placed in the Land Registry. The original of the surety title and the report shall be deposited in the Palace of Justice vault. It shall be mentioned in the initial record.
•	The civil party and the defendant may, within the period prescribed in Article 116 of this Code, file an appeal against the part of the release decision relating to the amount of the surety.
Article 117
•	The Public Prosecution Office shall be responsible for implementing parts (a) and (b) of the surety, and parts (c) and (d) shall be implemented through the Enforcement Department after the judgement has become irrevocable.
Article 118
•	If the released defendant attends the proceedings pertaining to the investigation, the trial and enforcement of the judgement, the first portion of the surety shall be reimbursed. If he fails to attend any of the investigative or trial proceedings or does not submit to enforcement of the judgement, the first portion of the surety shall be forfeited to the Treasury.
•	If it is decided to stay proceedings against the defendant, the whole of the surety shall be reimbursed.
•	If a decision is issued to the effect that the public prosecution should lapse on account of his death, the first portion of the surety shall be paid to his heirs.
•	If it is decided to extinguish the charges against him on the ground of a general amnesty or a special pardon, the first portion of the surety shall be reimbursed.
•	If a dispute arises regarding the application of this Article, it shall be settled in camera by the judicial authority seized of the case, or the authority that rendered the judgement, on the basis of an application from the person concerned.
Article 119
•	If significant grounds for re-arresting the defendant arise after his release, the Investigating Judge may issue an arrest order after consulting the Public Prosecution Office. If the order to release him was issued by the Indictment Chamber when the Investigating Judge’s decision to dismiss the application was set aside, the Investigating Judge shall submit the case file to the Indictment Chamber so that it may issue a ruling on his decision to re-arrest the defendant. The enforcement of his decision shall not, however, be stayed on that account. If the Indictment Chamber decides to set aside his decision, it shall order that the defendant be released.
Chapter VI: Decisions of the Investigating Judge on Completion of the Investigation
Article 120
•	On completing the investigation, the Investigating Judge shall transmit the case file to the Public Prosecution Office so that it may present its final submissions. The Public Prosecution Office shall present its submissions within a period not exceeding one week.
•	If the Public Prosecution Office requests further investigations, it shall specify the existing shortcomings and the investigative measures that it considers necessary. The Investigating Judge may decide to grant or reject the request. If he rejects it, he shall state the grounds for his rejection. The Public Prosecution Office may appeal against the decision to reject it. If the Indictment Chamber sets the decision aside, it may either address the subject matter of the request, or it may refer the case file to the First Investigating Judge so that he may continue the investigation or entrust it to another Investigating Judge. If, however, it endorses the decision, it shall return the file to the Investigating Judge so that he may issue the committal order after the Public Prosecution Office has issued its final submissions.
Article 121
•	If the Investigating Judge decides to stay proceedings against the defendant, he shall base his decision on either a legal or factual ground.
•	The ground shall be legal if there is no qualification of the alleged act under criminal law, if a new law was enacted after the charge was laid under which it is no longer qualified as an offence, if the qualification of the act as an offence is no longer valid on a legally justifiable ground, or if the public prosecution in respect of the charge has been extinguished on any of the legally established grounds for extinguishment.
•	The ground is factual if the investigation fails to establish that the alleged offence actually occurred, if there is no evidence of the existence of a causal link between the alleged offence and the defendant, or if the public prosecution was brought against an unknown person and the investigation failed to detect him or to ascertain his identity. In the latter situation, the Investigating Judge shall issue a permanent wanted notice with a view to detecting the perpetrator or ascertaining his identity.
•	If the Investigating Judge orders a stay of the proceedings against the defendant, he shall order his immediate release if he is in custody. An appeal against this decision shall not stay its enforcement.
Article 122
•	If the Investigating Judge decides that the alleged act is a petty offence or a misdemeanour that is not punishable by imprisonment, he shall immediately release the defendant if he is in custody and refer the case file to the Single Judge through the Public Prosecution Office.
Article 123
•	In a case involving an indictment for a misdemeanour or a petty offence, the Public Prosecutor shall send the case file to the competent Single Judge within three days of the date on which it was filed with him, together with a list of the items compiled by the Investigation Department.
Article 124
•	If the Investigating Judge considers that the act he has investigated amounts to a felony, he shall issue a decision setting out the facts of the case, the evidence available and the legal qualification applicable thereto. He shall refer the file to the Public Prosecution Office for transmission to the Indictment Chamber, which is the authority responsible for the indictment.
Article 125
•	If the Investigating Judge decides that the charge of a felony is not applicable to the facts of the case, but that the charge of a misdemeanour is applicable, the Public Prosecutor may appeal his decision. The civil party is not entitled to appeal the decision.
Article 126
•	The Investigating Judge’s order to refer the case to the Single Judge or to consider the act as a felony shall contain the defendant’s family name and given names, his age, his place of birth, his parents’ names, his nationality, civil register number, place of residence and occupation, and the date of his arrest and release, as well as a clear statement of the facts, the evidence and the legal qualification.
Article 127
•	If new evidence comes to light following publication of the order to stay proceedings against the defendant, the investigation shall be reopened if the order was based on a factual ground.
•	New evidence shall consist of witness statements, or documents or records which were not in the possession of the Investigating Judge, but which might have affected the conclusion he reached.
•	The new evidence shall be submitted to the Public Prosecutor, who shall assess its usefulness and whether it is sufficient to warrant an application for the investigation to be reopened. If he considers that it serves the aforementioned purpose, he shall request the Investigating Judge to reopen the investigation.
•	The Investigating Judge shall examine the new evidence and issue whatever orders he sees fit. He shall question the defendant without having a subsequent charge brought by the Public Prosecution Office and shall abide by the applicable rules in his investigative work.
•	If the Investigating Judge concludes, after resuming the investigation, that the order to stay proceedings should be reversed, he shall decide, after consulting the Public Prosecution Office, to commit the defendant for trial or to qualify his act as a felony. If however the fresh investigation does not produce any evidence to necessitate the amendment of the first decision to stay proceedings, he shall issue an order that it should stand.
•	If the order to stay proceedings was issued by the Indictment Chamber, it shall provide for the reopening of the investigation on the basis of an application from the Public Prosecutor. The investigation shall be carried out by its Presiding Judge or by a Judge delegated by him in accordance with the rules applicable before the Investigating Judge.
Part IV: The Indictment Chamber
Chapter I: The Indictment Chamber as an Indictment Authority
Article 128
•	A Civil Chamber of the Appeal Court performs the functions of an Indictment Chamber, which include:
•	
1.	Serving as an indictment authority in the case of a felony;
•	
2.	Hearing appeals against orders of the Investigating Judge and against decisions that form part of its jurisdiction pursuant to special laws;
•	
3.	Dealing with the right of evocation;
•	
4.	Ruling on applications for rehabilitation.
Article 129
•	If the Investigating Judge considers in his final order that the alleged act is a felony, he shall refer the case file to the Public Prosecution Office for transmission to the Indictment Chamber. The Public Prosecution Office shall prepare a report within five days containing its submissions. The civil party and the accused may present a submission within the same period setting out the facts of the case, the evidence, the legal qualification and any requests.
Article 130
•	After the Public Prosecutor refers the case file, together with his report, to the Indictment Chamber, the latter shall deal with the case on the merits. If it considers that the investigation is complete and that any further investigations would serve no purpose, it shall issue one of the following orders:
•	(a) An order to stay proceedings against the defendant and to release him if it considers that there is insufficient evidence to charge him with the alleged felony, if the act attributed to him does not constitute an offence, if its qualification as an offence is no longer valid on a legally justifiable ground, if a new law has been enacted that amends the previous law, or if the public prosecution has lapsed on any of the legally established grounds;
•	(b) A decision to consider that the act constitutes a misdemeanour or a petty offence entailing the referral of the defendant to the Single Criminal Judge and his release if the act is deemed to be a petty offence or misdemeanour that is not punishable by more than one year’s imprisonment;
•	(c) An order to indict the defendant if it ascertains that the facts and the evidence against him are sufficient to warrant the indictment, after qualifying the act attributed to him as a felony.
•	In its decision, the Indictment Chamber shall order the referral of the accused to the Criminal Court to be tried on the charges against him and shall issue an arrest warrant against him.
Article 131
•	The indictment shall contain the names of the members of the Indictment Chamber, the submissions of the Public Prosecution Office, a clear and detailed account of the facts of the case, an itemized list of the evidence of the link between the offence and the act charged, a reasoned legal qualification, a citation of the legal provisions applicable to the facts, and an arrest warrant. It shall also contain the family name and first name of the accused, his date of birth, his parents’ names, his civil register number, place of residence and nationality, the date of his arrest and that of his release, where relevant.
•	The Presiding Judge of the Chamber and the two Counsellor Judges shall sign the indictment.
•	The arrest warrant shall contain the family name and first name of the accused, his date of birth, his parents’ names, his place of residence, occupation and nationality, the felony with which he is charged, the legal provision applicable thereto, and the order issued to the security forces to arrest him.
•	If the Indictment Chamber issues an order to refer the accused to the Criminal Court and no arrest warrant has yet been issued, it may still issue the warrant on the basis of a request from the Public Prosecution Office.
Article 132
•	If the Indictment Chamber ascertains that the investigation is incomplete or unclear, its Presiding Judge shall conduct a supplementary investigation or instruct one of his Counsellor Judges to do so.
•	The supplementary investigation shall comply with the rules governing the Investigating Judge’s work in that regard.
•	Once the supplementary investigation has been completed, the case file shall be referred to the Public Prosecution Office so that its submission may reflect the new evidence. The Indictment Chamber shall then issue the appropriate ruling thereon.
Article 133
•	The Indictment Chamber shall issue a single indictment for connected offences. Even if some of the offences are misdemeanours, the entire case shall be referred to the Criminal Court.
•	The following are considered connected offences:
•	(a) Offences committed by several persons jointly at one time;
•	(b) Offences committed by a number of persons at different times and in different places by common accord;
•	(c) Offences committed to prepare, facilitate or execute other offences, to eliminate the traces of the offences, or to prevent the perpetrators from being prosecuted;
•	(d) Offences where several persons are involved in concealing evidence of the offence, wholly or in part.
Article 134
•	The Indictment Chamber may, irrespective of the decisions of the Investigating Judge referred to it, examine all the felonies as well as the misdemeanours connected thereto, proprio motu or pursuant to a request from the Public Prosecutor, and shall take an appropriate decision thereon.
•	It may undertake a supplementary investigation, proprio motu or pursuant to a request from the Public Prosecutor, the defendant or the civil party.
Chapter II: The Indictment Chamber as an Appeals Authority
Article 135
•	The Indictment Chamber serves as the appeals authority for any appeal against the decisions of the Investigating Judge.
Article 136
•	The Public Prosecution Office may appeal against all decisions resulting from the investigation that are contrary to its motions, be they administrative, investigative or judicial, and against the decision to withdraw the arrest order because the requisite conditions have not been met, within twenty-four hours of the date of issue of the order.
•	The defendant may appeal against the following decisions of the Investigating Judge:
•	(a) A decision to reject the application for his release;
•	(b) A decision to dismiss any of the motions raised under Article 73 of this Code.
•	The civil party may appeal against the following decisions:
•	(a) A Judge’s decision to accept one or more motions raised under Article 73 of this Code if they are prejudicial to his interests;
•	(b) A Judge’s decision to leave the defendant at liberty or to release him by right or on bail;
•	(c) An order to stay proceedings against the defendant;
•	(d) A Judge’s decision to qualify the alleged act as a petty offence;
•	(e) A Judge’s decision to withdraw the arrest warrant against the defendant if such a decision violates the rules.
•	The person incurring civil liability or the guarantor may not appeal against the Investigating Judge’s decisions except for the decision regarding jurisdiction.
•	The time limit for the appeal is twenty-four hours. It shall begin to run for the civil party, the defendant, the person incurring civil liability and the guarantor on the date of notification at his elected domicile within the town in which the Investigating Judge’s office is located, if he has no actual residence there.
Article 137
•	The appeal shall be filed directly with the Indictment Chamber or through the Investigating Judge.
•	The Indictment Chamber shall rule on the appeal against the Investigating Judge’s decision within a period not exceeding ten days from the time of its filing.
Article 138
•	An appeal filed before the Indictment Chamber entails a transfer of jurisdiction in respect of its substance. If the appeal is filed within the legal time limit, and specifies the legal grounds and the submission of the appellant, and bears the signature of a lawyer at the Appeal Court, the Indictment Chamber shall rule that the appeal is procedurally admissible and shall decide, on the merits, to uphold, set aside or amend the appealed decision.
•	An appeal filed by the civil party against the decision to stay proceedings against the defendant leads to the resumption of the public prosecution and its referral to the Indictment Chamber.
•	If the Indictment Chamber does not decide on the merits of the case itself, it shall refer it to the First Investigating Judge so that he may continue investigating it or refer it to another Investigating Judge.
Article 139
•	If the Public Prosecution Office or the civil party appeals against the Judge’s decision to release the defendant, to leave him at liberty or to withdraw the arrest warrant on account of a breach of the rules, the appeal shall stay enforcement of the decision pending a ruling, which shall be made within twenty-four hours.
•	If this period elapses without a decision by the Indictment Chamber, the Public Prosecutor shall automatically release him.
Article 140
•	If the Indictment Chamber sets aside the Investigating Judge’s decision to leave the defendant at liberty, it may issue an arrest warrant against him.
•	If the Chamber sets aside the Investigating Judge’s decision to dismiss the application for the defendant’s release, the released person shall elect a domicile in the city or town in which the Indictment Chamber is located, if his actual residence is not located there.
Chapter III: The Right of Evocation
Article 141
•	If the Investigating Judge issues a decision in which he ascertains that the alleged act is a felony, the Indictment Chamber may, without requiring a charge to be brought by the Public Prosecution Office, examine all the offences disclosed during the investigation and connected to the original offence and may investigate all persons concerning whom there is evidence of involvement in the offences.
Article 142
•	In the case of offences that are not connected to the original offence, the initiation of the public prosecution shall require charges to be brought by the Public Prosecution Office.
•	If the Indictment Chamber sets aside on appeal a decision whereby the Investigating Judge refused to take a measure or to conduct inquiries, then the Indictment Chamber shall take the measure or conduct the inquiries instead of the Investigating Judge and may decide on the merits of the case itself.
•	If it sets aside on appeal a decision of the Investigating Judge to stay proceedings or to refrain from proceeding with the case on one or more of the grounds set out in Article 73 of this Code, it may decide on the merits of the case itself.
•	If the Indictment Chamber does not decide on the merits of the case itself, it shall refer it to the First Investigating Judge so that he may continue investigating it or refer it to another Investigating Judge.
Article 143

- Appeals against decisions of the Indictment Chamber
before the Court of Cassation are permissible only on the grounds set
forth in Articles 306 and 307 of this Code.
- The time limit for an appeal against decisions of the
Indictment Chamber is fifteen days. It shall begin to run for the Public
Prosecution Office on the date of its delivery and for the civil party,
the defendant, the person incurring civil liability and the guarantor,
on the date of notification pursuant to the rules laid down in Articles
147 and 148 of this Code; it shall be deemed to have been notified if
it is ascertained that the person concerned obtained knowledge
thereof.

Chapter IV 
Rulings on applications for rehabilitation
Article 144
•	Any person convicted of a felony or misdemeanour is eligible for rehabilitation. The relevant decision shall be issued by the Indictment Chamber with jurisdiction in the place of residence of the convicted person on the basis of an application from the person concerned.
•	Applications for rehabilitation in accordance with Articles 159 and 160 of the Criminal Code shall comply with the following rules:
•	(a) The convicted person shall file an application for rehabilitation with the Indictment Chamber;
•	He shall attach thereto a copy of the judgement delivered against him and a copy of his criminal record dated not more than one month prior to the date on which the application is filed.
•	(b) The Indictment Chamber shall designate one of its members to ascertain whether the application meets the legal conditions and to submit a report thereon to the Indictment Chamber.
•	The Indictment Chamber shall transmit the application, together with the report, to the Public Prosecution Office so that it may prepare its submission.
Article 145
•	If the Indictment Chamber decides to approve the application, it shall submit a certified copy of its decision to the Appeal Court Prosecutor, who shall communicate it to the Criminal Records Department for implementation.
Article 146
•	If the Indictment Chamber decides to reject the application for rehabilitation, the person who filed the application may not file another application until six months have elapsed from the date on which he was notified of the rejection.
Part V: Rules Governing the Service of Legal Documents and Decisions
Article 147
•	All summonses, enforceable summonses, judgements and decisions are served, and judicial measures executed, through special security units under the direct authority of the Public Prosecutor, the First Investigating Judge and the Presidents of competent authorities and courts. They are answerable to the President of the judicial body who charges or instructs them to serve any document or execute any measure in the event of their failure to do so at the appointed time.
•	The process server may not serve a document on himself or on his spouse, or on their ascendants, descendants, relatives by marriage or any other relatives up to the fourth degree of kinship.
•	The document to be served shall state the name of the person requesting service, the name and address of the process server, the date on which he was tasked to serve the document and the name and address of the addressee.
•	In addition to the foregoing, the document to be served shall specify the offence that is the subject of the prosecution, investigation or trial, the legal provision applicable thereto, the judicial authority seized of the case, and the status of the person to be served with the document: plaintiff, defendant, person incurring civil liability, guarantor, witness, etc.
•	The person serving the document shall execute his instructions without delay and do his utmost to notify the addressee in person.
•	The addressee shall sign the original of the document served and shall be provided with a copy thereof. If he refuses or is unable to sign, or if he refuses to take delivery of the copy, this shall be noted by the process server on the original document.
Article 148
•	If the addressee is a legal entity, the document shall be served at its main office.
•	Members of the diplomatic or consular service shall be served with summonses through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
•	Military personnel shall be served with summonses through the commanders of their units.
Article 149
•	If the person to be served with a document has no known place of residence or domicile, or if the process server does not find anyone who can be served with the document at his place of residence or domicile, he shall be notified through the posting of a copy of the notification document at the entrance to his last known place of residence; a second copy thereof shall be communicated to the local mukhtar, and a third copy shall be posted at the entrance to the judicial authority that ordered the notification. These measures shall be recorded by the process server on the original copy of the document, which shall be returned to the relevant authority.
•	If the person to be served with a document has no known last place of residence, it shall suffice for the process server to post a copy of the document at the entrance to the judicial authority that ordered the notification.
Article 150
•	Notification shall be provided at least three days prior to the date on which the addressee is required to appear before the judicial authority that ordered notification, unless a contrary legal provision is applicable.
•	If notification is addressed to a person living in a foreign country, it shall be served by means of a registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt, through the Lebanese embassy or consulate in the country concerned, or in accordance with the rules applicable under local legislation.
•	If it proves impossible to serve the document, the court may take it that the person to be served with the document has no known place of residence and it shall be served in accordance with the provisions of Article 148 of this Code.
•	If the notification measures, including the time limit, are not complied with, the judicial authority shall declare the notification null if the addressee fails to appear and shall serve the document again in accordance with Article 148 of this Code. If he appears and requests that the hearing be deferred before raising any motion pertaining to the case, the Judge seized of the case shall order its deferral and shall inform him of the date; in the absence of such a request, he shall be deemed to have been notified.
•	If the judicial authority declares that the service of the document is null on account of an act attributable to the process server, the latter may be fined a sum equivalent to the costs of serving the document and shall, if necessary, be required to pay compensation for damages to the aggrieved party.
•	When calculating the time limit for service of the document, the time and day of service shall not be taken into account. If the time limit expires on a public holiday or outside official working hours, the time limit shall be extended until the next working day.
Part VI: Trial Courts
Chapter I: The Single Criminal Judge
Section I: Referral of a Case to the Single Judge
Article 151
•	The Single Judge hears cases involving misdemeanours and petty offences, with the exception of offences to which special legal provisions are applicable. The Public Prosecution Office is not represented before him.
Article 152
•	Cases are referred to the Single Judge in one of the following ways:
•	(a) Charges laid by the Public Prosecution Office;
•	(b) Charges laid directly by the aggrieved party, who assumes the status of a civil party;
•	(c) A committal order by the Investigating Judge or the Indictment Chamber;
•	(d) An action for damages on the ground of a stay of proceedings, acquittal or discharge;
•	(e) A decision to designate a judicial authority or to transfer the case;
•	(f) Commission of a misdemeanour during a trial hearing;
•	(g) Petty offences for which a record has been issued.
Article 153
•	The Public Prosecutor brings charges of a misdemeanour before the Single Judge in cases involving a person whose identity has been ascertained.
•	The statement of charges contains a description of the alleged misdemeanour and of the place in which it was committed, and is accompanied by the record of the preliminary investigations, the complaint, and all documents supporting the prosecution.
•	The Public Prosecutor may subsequently bring charges against a person whom he failed to charge so long as the case remains pending before the Single Judge. The latter may draw his attention to his failure to bring charges against a person against whom evidence exists, without being bound to do so.
•	The Public Prosecutor shall sign the document containing his charges and he may not withdraw it or drop the charges.
•	He may not charge a person with an offence before the Single Judge if he has already charged the person with the same offence before the Investigating Judge.
Article 154
•	If a person is apprehended in the act of committing a misdemeanour that is punishable with imprisonment, he shall be brought before the Public Prosecutor, who shall question him, charge him and refer him to the Single Judge before whom he will be tried either immediately or on the following day, while respecting Article 108 of this Code. Before referring the case to the Single Judge, the Public Prosecutor may issue an arrest warrant, which shall be enforced forthwith.
•	If the defendant requests a deferral in order to appoint a lawyer, the Single Judge shall grant him a maximum period of three days for this purpose, which is non-renewable.
•	In the case of a misdemeanour discovered in flagrante, the Public Prosecutor shall record the names of the witnesses. The Single Judge may order that they be served with oral notice of the time of the hearing, either through the Judicial Police, the security forces or the Bailiffs’ Office.
•	If one of them fails to appear, the Single Judge may issue an enforceable summons.
Article 155
•	If the Single Judge ascertains that the case pertaining to an offence discovered in flagrante is not ready for trial, he shall order its deferral for a period not exceeding ten days. He may release the defendant of his own motion in the absence of a civil action or in response to an application from the defendant, with or without surety, if he finds that there is no need to keep him in detention, provided that the released defendant elects a domicile in the city or town in which the Single Judge’s office is located.
•	In such cases he may, if he considers it necessary, issue a travel ban for a period not exceeding two months.
•	If the defendant files a request for release, a copy of his application shall be served on the civil party, if there is one, at his actual place of residence within the area of jurisdiction of the Single Judge or at his elected domicile, and he shall submit his observations thereon within twenty-four hours of the date of service. The Single Judge shall decide whether to grant or reject the application within a similar time limit.
•	The civil party may file an appeal against the Single Judge’s decision before the Appeal Court within twenty-four hours of the date of notification. The defendant may file an appeal against a decision to reject his release within twenty-four hours of the date of notification. The Public Prosecution Office may appeal the decision within twenty-four hours of the date of its delivery. An appeal against the release order entails a stay of its enforcement. The appeal shall be filed through the Single Judge. The released defendant is required to elect a domicile in the city or town in which the court is located if his actual domicile is not in that location.
Article 156
•	The party aggrieved by a misdemeanour may file a direct complaint and assume the status of a civil party before the Single Judge with jurisdiction over the area in which the offence occurred, the place of residence of the defendant, or the place in which he was apprehended.
•	The complaint shall be recorded in the registry of the Single Judge, who shall require the complainant to pay an advance in respect of court fees, which shall not exceed one per cent of the amount being claimed. In addition, he shall instruct the complainant, if he is a foreign national, to present surety and shall determine its nature and amount in his decision.
•	The Judge may exempt the complainant from paying an advance if he is financially unfit to do so. He may also exempt a foreign complainant from paying surety on the same ground by a reasoned decision.
•	Public prosecutions are initiated by a complaint filed by a complainant who assumes the status of a civil party and who makes the required payment, unless exempted therefrom. If either of these two conditions is not met, the complaint shall be deemed to constitute a denunciation. In such cases, the Judge shall order its referral to the Public Prosecutor for a decision on whether to initiate a public prosecution.
•	The complainant may withdraw the civil action. If he does so within two working days of the date of filing his complaint, he shall not be liable for the costs of withdrawal. His withdrawal shall not affect the course of the public prosecution, except in cases where the extinction of the civil action leads to the extinction of the public prosecution.
Article 157
•	The Single Judge shall schedule a hearing and summon the civil party, the defendant, the witnesses, the person incurring civil liability and the guarantor to attend.
•	The Single Judge shall serve the defendant with a copy of the direct complaint together with its attachments at least three days before the date of the hearing.
Article 158
•	The defendant, or his counsel in the absence of the defendant, may:
•	
1.	Raise one or more of the objections provided for in Article 73 of this Code prior to being questioned;
•	The Single Judge shall serve the civil party with a copy of the submission filed by the defendant or his counsel in this regard and shall allow him a period of not more than five days to respond thereto.
•	On expiry of this period, he shall rule on the objection raised.
•	The Public Prosecutor may file an appeal against this ruling within twenty-four hours of the date of its delivery.
•	The defendant and the civil party or their respective counsel may file an appeal against the ruling within twenty-four hours of the date of notification.
•	
2.	Apply for a stay of enforcement of the arrest warrant issued in absentia by the Investigating Judge against him until a judgement is delivered.
•	The Judge may decide to stay the enforcement of the arrest warrant issued in absentia, with or without surety, on condition that the defendant undertakes to attend the trial hearings. If he fails to attend any hearing without a lawful excuse, the Judge may reverse his decision to stay enforcement.
•	The decision to stay enforcement, or to reverse that decision, is not open to any kind of review.
Article 159
•	If the Investigating Judge decides to commit the defendant with a misdemeanour or petty offence, the Public Prosecution Office shall refer the case file to the Single Judge within three days of receiving it, unless an appeal is filed against the committal order.
•	A committal order issued by the Indictment Chamber shall also be referred to him within the same time limit.
•	The Single Judge shall deal with the case on the basis of the committal order.
Article 160
•	If the Investigating Judge decides to stay proceedings against the defendant on a legal or factual ground, the defendant may apply to the Single Criminal Judge for an award of compensation for damages against the civil party before the Single Criminal Judge with jurisdiction pursuant to Article 72 of this Code.
Article 161
•	The Single Judge shall deal with a case referred to him by a decision of the Criminal Chamber of the Court of Cassation pursuant to a ruling designating a judicial authority or a decision to transfer the case.
•	If the Criminal Chamber of the Court of Cassation decides to quash the Single Judge’s decision declaring that he lacks jurisdiction to hear the case, the case shall be returned to him or referred to another Single Judge within the same jurisdictional area.
Article 162
•	If a misdemeanour occurs during a court hearing before the Single Judge, he shall record it forthwith, question the perpetrator and, if applicable, hear the witnesses. He shall impose the penalty applicable to the misdemeanour at the same hearing. If he decides to impose a term of imprisonment, he may issue an arrest warrant against the convicted person to be executed forthwith. This decision is open to appeal.
Article 163
•	The Single Judge shall deal with petty offences for which a record has been issued by those authorized by law to issue such records and transmit them to the competent court.
Section II: Rules Governing Proceedings Before the Single Criminal Judge
Article 164
•	When the case file arrives at the department of the Single Judge, the clerk shall register it and the Judge shall set a time for the hearing. The clerk shall prepare case documents for the plaintiff, the defendant, the person incurring civil liability and the guarantor and arrange to have them served. Notice shall be served on each of them three days before the opening of the proceedings. The Judge may decide in urgent cases to reduce the time limit.
•	If one of the aforementioned persons attends court, having been aware of the time of the hearing, he may not claim that he was not served with notice thereof or that the time limit of three days was not respected.
Article 165
•	Subject to the provisions of Article 166 of this Code, a defendant who has been notified of the time of a hearing shall present himself at the court in person.
Article 166
•	The defendant shall attend himself or be represented by his lawyer if the maximum penalty carried by the offence with which he is charged does not exceed one year’s imprisonment. In such cases, the trial shall be deemed to have been conducted adversarially. If he is neither present nor represented by a lawyer, he shall be tried in absentia.
•	If the Judge finds that the defendant should be present in person, he shall notify him through his counsel of the date of the hearing at which he is to be questioned, specifying the day and time. If the defendant fails to attend the hearing, the Judge may draw an inference from his absence as evidence of the veracity of the charge against him.
•	If the offence with which the defendant is charged carries a penalty of more than one year’s imprisonment and he fails to appear despite having been notified of the time of the hearing, he shall be tried in absentia.
Article 167
•	If a defendant who is in custody has been notified of the time of the hearing and fails to appear without a lawful excuse, he shall be tried in absentia.
Article 168
•	If the offence with which the defendant is charged is fully covered by an amnesty, he may be represented by a lawyer at the trial.
Article 169
•	The civil party, the person incurring civil liability and the guarantor may be represented at the trial by a lawyer.
•	If the civil party fails to attend the hearing without a reasonable excuse and is not represented by a lawyer despite having been duly notified, the proceedings shall be conducted in his absence and the public prosecution shall proceed. He may not oppose the judgement delivered at the conclusion of the proceedings, but he may appeal against it.
•	If the civil party attends one trial hearing at which he presents his claims, then fails to attend the other hearings without a reasonable excuse, the court may award him personal compensation and conduct the trial in his absence as though it were adversarial.
•	If the person incurring civil liability or the guarantor fails to attend the hearing, is not represented by a lawyer and presents no reasonable excuse despite having been duly notified, the trial shall be conducted in his absence. He may not oppose the judgement delivered at the conclusion of the proceedings, but he may appeal against it.
Article 170
•	If the defendant attends the opening of the trial hearing and fails to attend subsequent hearings without presenting a reasonable excuse, the trial shall be deemed to have been conducted adversarially.
Article 171
•	If the defendant is unable to attend the court on a major health ground and it is impossible for certain reasons to defer the trial, the Single Judge may proceed to the place where the defendant currently resides twenty-four hours after notice is served on him of the decision to question him. A record shall be made of the measures taken and the Judge shall sign it on each page, together with his clerk and the defendant.
•	If the defendant is absent from the trial after this questioning and the excuse on health grounds is still valid, he may be represented by a lawyer. Otherwise, his trial shall be deemed to be adversarial.
•	The civil party or his counsel may be present during these proceedings, having been duly notified of the appointed time.
Section III: Opposition to a Judgement Delivered in Absentia
Article 172
•	The civil portion of the judgement delivered in absentia shall become irrevocable as soon as the notification formalities have been completed in accordance with the rules laid down in the Code of Civil Procedure. The beneficiary of an award of personal compensation shall receive a copy of the judgement that is enforceable pursuant to the provisions governing the enforcement of civil judgements.
•	If, following recourse against the judgement delivered in absentia, the convicted person is acquitted or the proceedings are declared null and the civil portion of the judgement has been enforced, the convicted person may file an application for return of the confiscated amounts by the executor, and for compensation for damages.
Article 173
•	A person convicted in absentia may file an objection to the judgement delivered in absentia as a whole, or only to the civil obligations and compensation awarded.
•	The person making the objection may attend the hearings himself or appoint a lawyer to attend on his behalf if the sentence imposed does not exceed one year’s imprisonment, or if his objection only concerns the civil portion of the judgement and the compensation awarded.
•	If he attends and if his objection was filed within the legal time limit and in compliance with the applicable formal requirements, the Judge shall order the annulment of the judgement delivered in absentia and shall deem it to be non-existent. There shall be a re-trial in accordance with the normal rules.
•	If the person making the objection fails to attend the first hearing without reasonable excuse, the Judge shall order the formal dismissal of the objection, taking into consideration the provisions of the second paragraph of this Article. No objection may be raised to this ruling, but the first judgement delivered in absentia is open to appeal.
•	The time limit for filing an appeal begins to run on the date of notification of the judgement resulting from the objection.
Article 174
•	If the objection raised by the defendant is found to be justified, he shall be exempted from payment of the costs of the proceedings conducted in absentia. Otherwise he shall be liable for payment.
•	Where the court orders the formal dismissal of the objection, it may sentence the objector to a fine of between five hundred thousand and one million Lebanese pounds.
Section IV: Judicial Proceedings and Presentation of Evidence Before the Single Judge
Article 175
•	The Single Judge has ratione personae jurisdiction only, i.e. with respect solely to the persons charged. He may not include other persons unless charges are subsequently filed against them prior to the ruling on the case. Where there is evidence against persons other than the defendants, he shall prepare a report on the matter and transmit it to the Public Prosecutor without delay.
Article 176
•	The Single Judge examines the facts set out in the Public Prosecution Office’s statement of charges, the direct complaint of the victim, or the committal order. He may take account of circumstances and facts associated with the alleged offence that are liable to influence its qualification.
•	The Single Judge is not bound by the legal qualification of the alleged offence.
Article 177
•	If the Single Judge declares that he lacks jurisdiction on the ground that the alleged act constitutes a felony, he shall declare his lack of jurisdiction to hear the case and shall refer the case file to the Public Prosecutor.
•	If he finds evidence when hearing the case of offences of which he has not been seized or of persons who have not been charged, he shall refer the case file to the Public Prosecutor so that he may bring the relevant charges. However, if the offences discovered are connected to the alleged act, he may investigate them even in the absence of prior charges.
Article 178
•	The judicial proceedings shall be public and oral on pain of nullity unless the Single Judge decides to hold them in camera to preserve public order or public morals. Minors may be barred from the courtroom in all cases.
Article 179
•	The alleged offences can be proved by any means if there is no legal provision to the contrary. The Judge shall base his judgement solely on the evidence in his possession, and which was discussed adversarially during the proceedings.
•	The Judge shall assess the evidence with a view to arriving at a firm personal conviction.
Article 180
•	At the opening of the proceedings, the clerk shall read out the charges laid by the Public Prosecution Office, the committal order or a summary of the facts contained in the direct complaint. He shall then provide an account of the evidence against the defendant.
•	The Judge shall hear the civil party or his counsel. He shall then question the defendant in the presence of his lawyer, if he has appointed a lawyer to assist him during the proceedings.
•	If the defendant refuses to answer and remains silent, the Judge and the civil party may not compel him to speak. The Judge may not make an adverse inference from his silence.
Article 181
•	The parties to the case may ask to call witnesses, and the Single Judge may call any witness if he considers that it would be useful to hear his testimony. Before giving evidence, the witness shall swear the following oath: “I swear by almighty God to tell the truth and nothing but the truth.” Note shall be taken of this oath in the record of the proceedings.
•	When the Judge has finished hearing the witness, the civil party or his counsel and the defendant or his counsel may, through the Judge, put questions to the witness regarding the case. The Judge may refuse to put a question if he considers that it serves no purpose. If the party insists on raising it, he shall record the question and his decision to reject it.
Article 182
•	A summons shall be served on each witness three days before the date of the hearing.
•	If a witness appears in court, knowing that he was called to testify as a witness, he may not claim that he was not served with a summons or that the three-day time limit was not respected.
Article 183
•	The witness shall be heard by the Judge after he has ordered the other witnesses to withdraw. Before having him take the oath referred to in the preceding Article, the Judge shall ask him to state his family name and first name, his date of birth, his parents’ names, his nationality, civil register number, his occupation and his domicile, and whether he is linked to the defendant by ties of kinship or by enmity.
•	As a matter of principle, testimony given by ascendants and descendants of the defendant, his brothers and sisters, persons of equivalent kinship through marriage, and his husband and wife, even after divorce, is inadmissible. The Judge may hear their testimony if the civil party or the defendant does not object, and the testimony shall not be void. However, if one of them raises an objection, this shall not preclude the Judge from hearing them as a source of information.
•	Testimony given by a minor under 18 years of age shall be admissible only as a source of information.
•	A minor under 7 years of age shall be heard only as a source of information and on the basis of a reasoned decision.
Article 184
•	If a witness fails to appear at the hearing in spite of being duly served with a summons and does not present a reasonable excuse, the Judge may sentence him to a fine of between 100,000 and 500,000 Lebanese pounds.
•	A witness who has been fined may request the Judge to exempt him from payment if he presents a legitimate excuse.
•	The Judge may issue a warrant requiring a witness who fails to appear on being notified for the second time to be produced before him, even if he has already ordered him to pay a fine.
Article 185
•	The Judge may decide, proprio motu or in response to an application by one of the parties to the case, to call any witness who is present in the courtroom.
Article 186
•	If the witness is not proficient in the Arabic language, or if he is deaf or mute, the Investigating Judge shall appoint an interpreter who shall take an oath to perform his duties sincerely and faithfully.
Article 187
•	The testimony shall consist of the facts and circumstances of the alleged offence and the part played by the defendant.
•	If a witness who is summoned to appear before the Single Judge is the person who reported the offence to the competent authority, the Judge shall draw attention to that fact before hearing his testimony.
•	If the witness is an informant who reported the offence in return for a reward, the Judge may hear him as a source of information.
Article 188
•	If it appears that the witness is giving false testimony, the Judge shall instruct the security forces to detain him in the police cells and shall submit a report on the matter to the Public Prosecutor, stating that the witness has been detained. The Public Prosecutor may prosecute the witness for the offence of false testimony in accordance with the relevant rules.
Article 189
•	The witness shall sign the record of his statement after it is read to him.
Article 190
•	The records and reports contained in the case file shall have probative value only if they are formally sound and the person who compiled them did so in performance of his duties and within the bounds of his competence, setting down what he witnessed, heard or investigated himself.
•	If the record is one of those deemed valid by law until it is proved that it has been forged, the Judge shall take it into account. The Judge shall not allow the presentation of contrary evidence through testimony.
•	If under law the record has probative value until there is evidence of the contrary, the defendant may attempt to prove the contrary through written evidence or by means of testimony.
Article 191
•	The Single Judge may not terminate his investigation without questioning the defendant, unless questioning is impossible because he has absconded, or unless he concludes that the evidence gathered is sufficient to stay proceedings without the need for questioning.
Section V: Orders Issued by the Single Judge Concerning Detention
Article 192
•	The Single Judge may order the release of the defendant from custody after consulting the Public Prosecution Office.
•	The defendant shall submit his application for release to the Single Judge in duplicate. One copy shall be served on the civil party, if there is one, at his actual place of residence within the area of jurisdiction of the Single Judge or at his elected domicile, and he shall submit his observations thereon within twenty-four hours of the date of service. The Single Judge shall decide whether to grant or reject the application within a similar time limit.
•	The civil party and the defendant may file an appeal against the Single Judge’s decision before the Appeal Court within twenty-four hours of the date of notification. The Public Prosecution Office may appeal the decision within twenty-four hours of the date of its delivery. An appeal against the release order entails a stay of its enforcement. The appeal shall be filed through the Single Judge. The released defendant is required to elect a domicile in the city or town in which the court is located if his actual domicile is not in that location.
Article 193
•	The Single Judge may issue a detention order against the defendant if, following an adversarial trial, he decides to sentence him to a term of imprisonment of more than one year, provided that the order is based on a reasoned decision.
•	The detention order shall remain in force notwithstanding an appeal against the judgement.
Section VI: Judgements Delivered by the Single Judge
Article 194
•	At the conclusion of the trial, the Single Judge shall deliver his judgement, either at the end of the hearing or at a subsequent sitting.
•	The judgement shall be signed by the Judge and the clerk, shall bear the date of its delivery and shall contain a clear description of the facts established by the Judge, an itemized list of the supporting evidence, and an appropriately meticulous account of the grounds and reasoning, and of the legal provisions applicable to the offence.
•	It shall cite the legal basis upon which the Single Judge was seized of the case.
•	The Judge shall rule on all the objections and questions raised before him by the parties to the case.
•	He shall rule on the public prosecution and on the civil action, whether brought pursuant to the public prosecution or as a direct complaint, and shall deliver his judgement in public.
•	He may not refer in his judgement to facts that were not invoked or persons who were not formally charged.
Article 195
•	If the Single Judge ascertains that the facts that have been established constitute a felony, he shall declare that he lacks jurisdiction to hear the case and shall refer the case file to the Public Prosecution Office.
•	If he finds evidence when hearing the case of offences of which he has not been seized or of persons who have not been charged, he shall refer the case file to the Public Prosecution Office so that it may bring charges concerning the facts or against the
persons concerned as part of the original statement of charges or as a separate case.

Article 196
•	If the Single Judge ascertains that the elements of the alleged misdemeanor are complete and that there is sufficient evidence to establish a causal link between it and the act committed by the defendant, he shall uphold the charges, ascertain the applicable legal provisions, convict the defendant and sentence him to the appropriate penalty. He shall award the appropriate compensation and rule on all the civil obligations to the civil party if he has filed a claim and if the requisite conditions for the award have been met. If the penalty imposed is a fine or a suspended prison sentence, he shall order the release of the convicted person if he is in detention.
Article 197
•	If the Single Judge ascertains that the evidence of the defendant’s participation in the commission of the alleged offence is insufficient, he shall find the defendant not guilty and order that he be released forthwith if he is in custody. When delivering the judgement of acquittal, he shall sentence the civil party to pay compensation for damages to the defendant if he files a claim on the ground that the civil party abused his right to bring an action.
•	If the defendant does not file a claim for compensation for damages during the criminal proceedings prior to the disposal of the case, he may file a claim before the same authority in a separate action within three months of the date of notification of the judgement of acquittal or of the decision to confirm it.
Article 198
•	If the Single Judge ascertains that the alleged act does not constitute a criminal offence, that it is exempt from punishment, that it is not punishable by imprisonment, that the definition of an offence has ceased to apply to it for any reason, or that the action has lapsed due to one of the grounds for lapsation, he shall discharge the defendant and release him forthwith if he is in custody.
•	The provisions of the preceding Article shall be applicable if a claim for damages is filed.
Article 199
•	If the Single Judge ascertains that the act constitutes a petty offence, he shall issue a ruling thereon and award compensation to the aggrieved party if he has filed a claim. He shall order the release of the defendant forthwith if he is in detention.
Article 200
•	The costs of the proceedings shall be borne by the party against whom the adjudication was made.
•	The civil party may be exempted from all or part of the costs if the Judge ascertains that he acted in good faith, unless he initiated the public prosecution by means of a direct complaint.
Article 201
•	The Single Judge may rule on applications for the restitution of impounded articles even if he has decided the merits of the case so that he is no longer seized thereof, unless an appeal has been filed against his judgement.
•	The Judge’s ruling in favor of or against the restitution of impounded articles shall be open to appeal.
Article 202
•	The Single Judge may expedite enforcement of a portion of the compensation awarded to the civil party, even if his judgement is open to appeal.

Section VII 
Summary rules

Article 203
•	Summary rules apply to breaches of municipal bylaws, public-health regulations, and traffic regulations. When such a breach occurs — whether it carries a penalty as a petty offence (contravention) or a misdemeanor — the record (“report”) must be sent to the Single Judge. The Single Judge rules on the legal penalty applicable without summoning the defendant. 
•	The Judge shall deliver his judgement within ten days, unless
a shorter legal time limit is applicable. 
Article 204
•	The facts as set forth in the record shall be deemed to be true unless there were irregularities in compilation of the record. 
•	The Judge shall qualify the facts and specify the legal provisions applicable thereto and shall sentence the defendant unless he ascertains that
•	(a) The act with which the defendant is charged does not constitute an offence, or is completely exempt from punishment;
(b) That he lacks jurisdiction to rule on the petty offence;
(c) That the public prosecution has lapsed on some grounds.
If he decides to declare that he lacks jurisdiction, he shall refer the case file to the competent Single Judge.
Article 205
•	The ruling issued by the Single Judge in respect of any of the above-mentioned petty offences shall be enforceable unless the convicted person files an objection pursuant to the normal rules within ten days of the date on which he is notified thereof.
•	The Public Prosecutor may file an objection to the ruling
pursuant to the normal rules within ten days of the date of its
delivery.
•	If the Single Judge decides on the formal dismissal of the
objection, the penalty imposed shall be increased by a maximum of
one half.

Article 206
•	The summary rules set out above shall not be applicable if a civil action has been brought in respect of the case.
Article 207
•	When the judgement has become final and irrevocable, because the time limit for filing an objection has expired, because the objector withdraws the objection, or because the objection has been dismissed, the clerk shall send a summary of the judgement
with the annotation “enforceable” to the Public Prosecution Office within five days following that on which the judgement becomes irrevocable.
•	If the clerk fails to comply with the provisions of this Article, he shall be sentenced by the Single Judge to a fine of between 100,000 and 500,000 Lebanese pounds.
Chapter II 
Appeals against judgements and orders of the Single Judge to the Appeal Court
Section I
Exercise of the right of appeal
Article 208 
•	A defendant who has been convicted may file an appeal against the first instance judgement either in respect of the sentence imposed or in respect of the compensation.
•	The defendant may file an appeal against an acquittal if he has been sentenced to pay some or all of the court fees and against any judgement awarding him compensation where the plaintiff abused his right to bring an action.
Article 209
•	The person incurring civil liability or the guarantor may file an appeal against a judgement requiring him, jointly with a convicted defendant, to pay compensation to the civil party. They may file a separate appeal against the judgement even if the
defendant acquiesces thereto. In the latter case, he alone shall benefit from his appeal.
Article 210
•	The civil party may appeal against the part of the judgement concerning the civil action. If the civil action is dismissed on the ground of an acquittal, he may file an appeal against the dismissal even if the acquittal has become irrevocable because of the lack of an appeal by the Public Prosecution Office.

•	He may file an appeal against the part of a judgement which sentences him to pay compensation to the defendant.
Article 211
•	The Public Prosecution Office at the Appeal Court may file an appeal against the provisions of judgements pertaining to the public prosecution.
•	The Public Prosecution Office at the Court of Cassation may submit a request in writing to the Public Prosecution Office at the Appeal Court to file an appeal against a first instance judgement to acquit the defendant, to exempt him from punishment, to extinguish the public prosecution, or to declare that the Court lacks jurisdiction
to hear the case.
Section II 
Judgements that are open to appeal
Article 212 
Judgements pertaining to misdemeanors are open to appeal. Judgements in respect of petty offences are open to appeal only where they involve:
(a) A sentence of imprisonment or a fine of more than 500,000 Lebanese pounds;
(b) An additional or subsidiary penalty or an award of personal compensation of more than 500,000 Lebanese pounds;
(c) Dismissal of an objection provided for under Article 73 of this Code;
(d) A penalty in respect of a petty offence connected with a misdemeanor. 
Article 213  
•	Rulings that do not decide on the merits of a dispute may be appealed only when the final judgement has been delivered. 
•	Rulings on any objection raised under Article 73 of this Code, rulings on release, and rulings whereby the Single Judge dismisses the case without addressing the merits, shall be exempted from this principle.

Section III – Formal conditions governing the admissibility of an appeal
1. Time limit for appeals

Article 214 
•	The civil party, the defendant, the person incurring civil liability and the guarantor may file an appeal against a first instance judgement within fifteen days of the date of its delivery if it is delivered adversarially, and from the date of notification thereof if it is deemed to be adversarial, if it is delivered in absentia or if it involves the dismissal of an objection on formal grounds. 
•	The Public Prosecutor at the Appeal Court may file an appeal against a judgement within one month of the date of its delivery. 
•	The rules laid down in Articles 165 to 170 of this Code shall be applicable to the qualification of the judgement as being delivered adversarially or in absentia.

Article 215 
If the judgement is not delivered at the time specified at the final hearing for its delivery, any party to the case may file an appeal within fifteen days of the date of being notified thereof. 
Article 216 
•	Any party to the case who did not file an appeal against the first-instance judgement within the time limit of fifteen days may file a subsidiary appeal within five days of the date of being notified of the first sitting to hear an original appeal filed by another party to the case. 
•	Dismissal of the original appeal on formal grounds shall entail dismissal of the subsidiary appeal. 
Article 217 
The appeal is filed either through an appeal-lawyer with the Appeal Court in the area of jurisdiction of the Judge who delivered the appealed judgement, or through the Judge. The appeal must set out the grounds invoked by the person filing it and his demands. 
Article 218
If the appeal is filed through the Single Judge who delivered the appealed judgement, he shall transmit the appeal together with the case file within three days of the date on which it is filed. If the convicted person is in detention, the Public Prosecution Office shall order his transfer to the detention centre at the Appeal Court. If the person has served his sentence prior to the ruling on his appeal, the Public Prosecution Office shall release him forthwith.

Section IV – Effects of the appeal and rules governing proceedings at the Appeal Court
Article 219 
•	The first instance judgement shall not be enforced before the expiry of the time limit for an appeal, and before a ruling is delivered in the event of an appeal.
•	The appeal stays enforcement of the appealed judgement. However, the Judge’s provisional award of compensation to the civil party shall be enforceable with immediate effect, unless the Appeal Court issues a ruling to the contrary when examining the first instance judgement against which the appeal was filed. An arrest warrant issued by the Single Judge under Article 193 of this Code shall remain in force unless the Appeal Court decides to release the detainee.

Article 220 
•	An appeal filed by the Public Prosecutor shall entail referral of the public prosecution as a whole to the Appeal Court, unless it relates to only part of it, in which case its effect is confined thereto.
•	 Where an appeal is filed by the defendant, the Appeal Court shall confine its examination to the part of the judgement against which the appeal has been made. 
•	The Appeal Court may not consider new facts that might constitute offences and that were not invoked before the Single Judge who delivered the appealed judgement. 
Article 221 
If the defendant is the only party to file an appeal against the first instance judgement, the Appeal Court may not impose a severer sentence or increase the award of compensation to the civil party. 
Article 222 
An appeal filed only by the civil party shall entail referral of the civil part of the case to the Appeal Court. The Appeal Court may not reduce the amount of the compensation awarded to him. 
Article 223 
•	The Appeal Court shall set the date for the trial and shall comply with the ordinary rules governing proceedings before the Single Judge. The Public Prosecution Office shall be represented before it by the Public Prosecutor or by one of his Advocates-General. 
•	It shall hear the applications, as applicable, of the civil party or his counsel (if present), and the arguments of the representative of the Public Prosecution Office. Then it shall hear the defense counsel and the defendant himself, if he so requests. 
•	If it is satisfied with all the facts and evidence contained in the case file, it shall close the proceedings and deliver its judgement at the end of the hearing, or adjourn the hearing for it to be delivered at a later date. 
Article 224 
•	If the Court finds it necessary to undertake further investigation, it shall summon the witnesses and undertake any investigative measures it considers useful at a public hearing, or shall instruct one of its members to undertake a supplementary investigation in accordance with the normal rules. 
•	When the supplementary investigation has been completed, the relevant documents shall be added to the case file, and all the parties may examine them and discuss them at a public hearing. 
Article 225 
When the Appeal Court concludes its investigative measures, it shall decide to set aside, amend or uphold the outcome of the appealed judgement, replacing the reasoning on which the latter judgement was based with its own reasoning. 
Article 226 
•	When the Court sets aside the appealed judgement and decides to acquit the defendant or to discontinue the proceedings, it shall order his immediate release if he is detained and shall dismiss the civil action. 
•	A defendant who is acquitted or against whom proceedings have been discontinued may seek an award of compensation for damages against the plaintiff who abused his right to bring an action, in accordance with the provisions of Article 197 of this Code. 
Article 227 
•	When the Public Prosecutor’s Office files an appeal against the first instance judgement, the entire case shall be referred to the Appeal Court. If the Court ascertains that the facts of the case constitute a felony, it shall set aside the appealed judgement and declare that it lacks jurisdiction. It may issue a detention order against the defendant and transmit the case file to the Public Prosecutor’s Office for referral to the Investigating Judge. 
•	A dispute regarding jurisdiction when its ruling becomes final shall be settled through the procedure for settling conflicts of jurisdiction between different courts in criminal matters. 
Article 228 
When the Appeal Court ascertains that the Single Judge who delivered the appealed judgement was not competent to hear the case, it shall set aside the judgement on the ground of lack of jurisdiction and transmit the case file to the Public Prosecution Office so that it may take the requisite action. 
Article 229 
When the Appeal Court ascertains that the act charged is a petty offence (contravention), it shall issue a ruling thereon after setting aside the appealed judgement. 
Article 230 
If the Appeal Court sets aside the appealed judgement because of a failure to comply with the law or because it breaches the fundamental rules of procedure, it shall examine the merits of the case and issue a ruling thereon. 
Article 231 
An objection may be filed against a judgement delivered by the Appeal Court in absentia, in accordance with the rules governing objections against a judgement in absentia delivered by the Single Judge, and within the same time limit. 
Article 232 
The Appeal Court may decide, after consulting the Public Prosecution Office, whether it is appropriate to release a detained defendant. Its decision is not open to any kind of review.
Chapter III 
The Criminal Court 
Section I 
General provisions
Article 233 
•	The Criminal Court is composed of the Presiding Judge and two Counsellor Judges. It shall be convened in the presence of the Public Prosecutor or Advocate-General and the clerk. It shall be seized of cases pursuant to an indictment accompanied by the
statement of charges issued by the Public Prosecution Office.

•	The Court shall examine offences constituting felonies and connected misdemeanors. It may not examine any offence that is not included in the indictment or prosecute a person who has not been indicted. It may amend the legal qualification of the acts
described in the indictment
Article 234
Anyone who was involved in the case at the prosecution or investigation stage, or who was a member of the Indictment Chamber that drew up the indictment may not be included in the
composition of the Criminal Court.
Article 235
The record of the proceedings shall note, at the beginning of each hearing, the names of the Presiding Judge of the Court, the two Counsellor Judges, the representative of the Public Prosecution Office and the clerk, and the time at which the hearing was opened. It shall be signed by all of the aforementioned, except the representative of the Public Prosecution Office, at the end of each hearing. If any of them fails to sign, the hearing shall be null.
The record shall contain an account of all investigative measures and proceedings. The Presiding Judge shall issue instructions to the clerk regarding the material to be recorded.
Section II
Preparations for trial before the Criminal Court
Article 236
•	The Public Prosecutor shall prepare a list of witnesses for the prosecution and serve a copy thereof, together with a copy of the indictment, on the accused.
•	Once the notification procedure has been completed, the Public Prosecution Office shall transmit the case file to the Criminal Court after ordering the detained accused to be brought to the detention centre at the Court. Proceedings that are conducted without ensuring that the indictment and the list of witnesses for the prosecution have been served on the accused, as well as the resulting judgement, are liable to annulment.
Article 237 
•	The Presiding Judge of the Court or a Counsellor Judge delegated by the Presiding Judge shall question the accused who has been produced before it prior to the court hearing.
•	If the accused is not in detention, the Presiding Judge of the Court shall issue an order requiring him to surrender within twenty-four hours of the beginning of the proceedings. If he surrenders within the stated period, he shall remain in detention until a release order is delivered. If he fails to do so without a reasonable excuse, he shall be deemed to be a fugitive from justice and an enforceable arrest warrant shall be issued against him.
Article 238 
•	During the preliminary questioning, the accused shall be asked whether he has been served with the indictment and the list of witnesses for the prosecution and whether he has appointed a lawyer to assist him during the proceedings. He shall also be questioned about his social circumstances and asked to comment on the charge against him and the investigations on which it is based.
•	If the accused has not appointed a lawyer, the Presiding Judge, or the Counsellor Judge appointed by him, shall ask the President of the Bar Association to appoint a defense lawyer within twenty-four hours of the time of his notification, or he shall appoint one himself.
•	A record of the preliminary questioning shall be signed by the Presiding Judge or the delegated Counsellor Judge, the accused and the clerk.
Section III – The Trial 
Article 239 
 All the parties are entitled to examine the case file and to have a copy thereof.
Article 240 
The civil party before the Criminal Court shall appoint a defence lawyer.
If more than one person participated in the commission of a single felony or several connected felonies, and separate indictments were issued against them or against some but not others, the Presiding Judge of the Court shall order the indictments to be joined in a single case.
Article 241 
If the indictment comprises unconnected felonies, the Presiding Judge of the Court may decide to begin by trying the accused for some of the felonies, then to try them for the others.
Article 242 
The Presiding Judge of the Criminal Court shall set a date for the proceedings and summon the civil party and the witnesses. He shall issue an order requiring an accused who was released during the preliminary judicial investigation to surrender to the Court twenty-four hours before the commencement of the proceedings.
The time limit shall begin to run on the date on which notice is served pursuant to the provisions of Articles 147, 148 and 149 of this Code.
If he surrenders within the time limit, he shall be tried adversarially and the arrest warrant against him shall be enforced. If he does not, he shall be tried in absentia and the proceedings shall be held according to the rules governing the trial of a fugitive from justice.
Article 243 
 Before ruling on the merits of the case, the Court shall take the following decisions:
(a) A decision on a motion challenging jurisdiction on the ground that the accused was a minor on the date of the occurance of the felony with which he is charged;
If the Court decides to declare that it lacks jurisdiction and if there is another accused in the case, it shall separate the proceedings and refer the minor’s file to the Public Prosecution Office for transmission to the Juvenile Court.
(b) A decision on one or more procedural motions filed by the parties to the case;
(c) A decision on the defence arguments on the merits;
(d) A decision on whether to stay enforcement of the arrest warrant pending completion of the institution of legal proceedings before the Court if the accused was released during the preliminary judicial investigation;
(e) A decision on whether to release the accused if he is in detention.
The accused shall be released on condition that he elects a domicile in the city or town in which the Court is located so that he may be served there with documents and warrants, that he presents himself at the Court twenty-four hours before each hearing and that he pays the surety determined by the Court provided he remains in detention during the period running from the final hearing of the proceedings until delivery of the judgement. If he fails to attend a hearing without a reasonable excuse, he shall be deemed to be a fugitive from justice and the rules applicable to the trial of a fugitive shall be applied.
– The Court may decide to issue a travel ban against an accused person who was released pending delivery and enforcement of the judgement.
– The Court may not rule on an application for release until it has consulted the Public Prosecution Office.
– The Court shall comply with the provisions of Article 108 of this Code.
– The ruling on an application to release the accused shall not be open to review.
Article 244 
The parties to the case may request to call witnesses before the initiation of the proceedings or during the trial.
The Public Prosecutor and the civil party shall be notified of the list of witnesses called by the accused at least twenty-four hours before the time set to hear their testimony. The accused shall also be notified of the list of witnesses called by the civil party or the Public Prosecutor within the same time limit.
The Presiding Judge of the Court may decide of his own motion to summon experts who performed forensic duties pertaining to the case in order to question them to seek clarification of their opinions and any other witnesses whose testimony he might consider useful.
The costs of summoning the witnesses and their travel expenses shall be borne by the accused and the civil party who called them.

Article 245 
 If the Presiding Judge of the Court ascertains before the commencement of the proceedings that the information available in the case is incomplete, he shall order a supplementary investigation to be conducted in the presence of the parties. He shall either undertake the investigation himself, or delegate one of his Counsellor Judges to do so. On completion of the supplementary investigation, the records thereof shall be added to the case file.
Article 246 
 The Presiding Judge of the Court shall oversee the maintenance of order in the courtroom and take whatever steps are required to ensure the smooth progress of the proceedings. The members of security forces responsible for court security shall comply with his orders in this regard.
If any of those present at the hearing cause a disturbance, the Presiding Judge shall order their expulsion from the courtroom.
If they resist the order, the Presiding Judge may order that they be placed in detention for twenty-four hours. If their conduct constitutes a misdemeanour, a record of the act shall be compiled; the Court shall take up the matter immediately, prosecute them adversarially, and sentence them forthwith.
Article 247 
The Presiding Judge is vested with discretionary authority and may take any measures he deems necessary to disclose the facts provided that this does not stem from a prejudiced view of the case.
Article 248 
 The Presiding Judge shall structure the hearing and the discussions in whatever manner he deems appropriate. He is entitled to reject any request that may unnecessarily prolong the proceedings.
Unless a party to the case raises an objection to the hearing of a witness on legal grounds, he shall hear the witnesses after they take the oath. In the event of an objection, he shall then decide to dismiss the witness or to hear him as a source of information. He may sentence a witness who has been duly summoned and fails to appear at the hearing to a fine of between 100,000 and 500,000 Lebanese pounds.
A witness who has been sentenced to a fine may apply for an exemption if he presents a valid excuse.
The Presiding Judge of the Court may order that any witness who fails to attend for a second time after being summoned, be brought before the Court, even if he has already been fined by him.
The Presiding Judge of the Court may attach to the file any papers and documents that he deems necessary to disclose the facts, together with the other communications and documents in the case file. He may consult the initial or preliminary investigation file in order to deliberate on the statements contained therein and may seek expert assistance in clarifying technical points. If he wishes to hear a witness who is resident outside his area of jurisdiction, he may delegate the Investigating Judge with jurisdiction in the area of the witness’s domicile or place of residence.
Article 249 
 Proceedings before the Criminal Court shall be held in public unless the Presiding Judge decides to hold them in camera in order to preserve security or public morals.
The trial hearings shall be held daily until the final disposal of the case, unless the circumstances of the case require the deferral of a hearing, which shall be held at the earliest convenient time.
Records of the proceedings shall be compiled. The bench and the clerk shall sign the record.
If the civil party fails to attend the proceedings without a lawful excuse, the trial shall take place in his absence and the public prosecution shall proceed. If he attends some hearings and presents his claims on such an occasion, the Court may award him personal compensation.
Article 250 
 The proceedings shall be conducted orally. The Presiding Judge may decide to make an audio or visual recording thereof. All evidence to be used in deciding on the merits of the case shall be discussed by the parties in public; all criminal exhibits must be produced in court and the records of their seizure shall be read out. All of the parties may comment thereon.
Article 251 
 The accused shall appear before the Court at the trial hearing without instruments of restraint. He shall be guarded by members of security forces to prevent him from escaping.
The Presiding Judge shall enquire about his given name and family name, his parents’ names, his nationality, date and place of birth, civil register number, place of residence, occupation and level of education, whether he is married or single, and whether he has a criminal record and, if so, the type of offence of which he was convicted and whether he has served his sentence. He shall also ask him whether he has appointed defence counsel.
The proceedings shall not be held in the absence of the accused’s lawyer.
If the accused has not appointed a lawyer, the Presiding Judge of the Court may ask the President of the Bar Association to appoint a defence lawyer for the accused, or he may appoint one himself.
If the accused insists that no defence lawyer shall be appointed, his trial shall take place without a lawyer.
Article 252 
 The Presiding Judge shall alert the accused to his obligation to pay attention to the facts set forth in the indictment.
The Presiding Judge, or the Counsellor Judge delegated by the Presiding Judge, shall read out the indictment clearly. The civil party, the representative of the Public Prosecution Office and the accused shall not interrupt the reading by making observations.
After the reading, the Presiding Judge shall summarize for the accused the facts with which he is charged in the indictment, the supporting evidence and the legal qualification. The civil party shall then report the outcome of his civil action and present his claims or waive his rights with respect to the case. Finally, the representative of the Public Prosecution Office shall state the grounds for the indictment and present the list of witnesses for the prosecution. The clerk of the court shall read out the list.
Subject to the provisions of Article 244, the civil party, the representative of the Public Prosecution Office and the accused may raise an objection to the hearing of a witness whose name does not appear on the list with which he was served. The Court shall rule on the objection at the same hearing or at the following one.
The Presiding Judge of the Court may decide, exercising his discretionary authority, to hear all or some of the witnesses whose names are listed. He may also hear one or more witnesses whose names do not appear on the list of witnesses.

Article 253 
 Before the Presiding Judge of the Court questions the accused, he shall order that the witnesses be conveyed to the room reserved for them, where some members of security forces shall guard them and prevent them from disclosing what they intend to say in their testimony.
After the witnesses have left the courtroom, the Presiding Judge shall ask the accused whether he admits the charge against him. The Presiding Judge shall then proceed with the questioning after ascertaining that the accused is able to understand the questions put to him and that his statements are made entirely freely.
If the accused refuses to answer and remains silent, he may not be compelled to speak. If he suffers from a physical, psychological or mental illness, or shows signs thereof during the questioning, the court may seek the assistance of a medical expert, proprio motu or in response to an application by one of the parties, to diagnose his condition. The physician whose assistance is sought shall provide full details in his report of the diagnosis he has been asked to provide. He may not use his assignment to induce the accused to provide him with information regarding the offence for which he is being tried.
When the Presiding Judge concludes his questioning of the accused, the two Counsellor Judges, the civil party, the representative of the Public Prosecution Office, and counsel for the defence may put questions to him through the Presiding Judge, who is entitled to reject any question if he considers that it will not be helpful or useful in disclosing the facts.
The questions and answers shall be noted with the requisite precision and clarity in the record of the proceedings.

Article 254 
 If the accused is mute or deaf, the Presiding Judge of the Court shall appoint a person who can communicate with him in sign language or in some other way, after taking an oath to perform his duties sincerely and faithfully. If a deaf or mute person is able to write, the questioning shall take place by putting the questions and recording the answers in writing.
If the defendant does not understand the Arabic language, the Presiding Judge of the Court shall appoint a qualified interpreter, who shall begin his work after taking an oath to perform his duties sincerely and faithfully.
After the questioning of the accused, his statement shall be read to him clearly. He shall confirm it or make observations regarding it if necessary and this shall be noted in the record of the proceedings.

Article 255 
 On completion of the questioning of the accused, the Presiding Judge shall call each witness to give testimony in the absence of the other witnesses. He shall ask each witness to state his name, his parents’ names, his domicile or place of residence, his age, the closeness of his acquaintance or relationship with the accused and the civil party, whether he is related to either of them and, if so, the degree of kinship. The witness shall then swear the following oath:
“I swear by almighty God to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.”
He shall then deliver his testimony orally and the clerk shall note it in the record of the proceedings.
If the witness does not swear the oath in the form specified above, his testimony shall be void unless the Presiding Judge exempts him from taking the oath on ascertaining that he belongs to a rite that precludes him from taking it.

Article 256
 The Court shall hear the following as a source of information:
(a) The ascendants and descendants of the accused;
(b) His full brothers and sisters, his half brothers and sisters, or his relatives by marriage to the same degree;
(c) The spouse of the accused, even after a divorce;
(d) The civil party;
(e) A minor of less than 18 years of age.
The Court may hear the testimony of all those witnesses after they take the legal oath unless one of the parties to the case raises an objection thereto.

Article 257 
The testimony of an informant who reported the offence to the competent authorities without receiving a fee or reward for his denunciation shall be admissible. In order for such evidence to be admissible, the Public Prosecutor shall reveal the status of the informant before he is heard.
If the informant received any kind of fee or reward for his denunciation, his testimony shall be inadmissible if any party to the case raises an objection. The Presiding Judge of the Court may still hear him as a source of information.
A Judicial Police officer is prohibited from mentioning the name of an informant when giving testimony.

Article 258 
 A person who is pledged to professional secrecy may not be compelled to give testimony if the testimony would result in a breach of the confidential information that he is required to protect.
If a witness invokes professional secrecy and a party objects thereto, the Court shall rule on the dispute in the light of the law governing his profession and the nature of his work.

Article 259 
The Court may hear a witness who attends without a summons if his name appears on one of the lists of witnesses to be heard.

Article 260 
A witness may not be interrupted when testifying.
– The civil party, the representative of the Public Prosecution Office, the two Counsellor Judges and the accused may put questions to the witness through the Presiding Judge.
– The Presiding Judge of the Court may decide to reject a question that does not serve to disclose the facts.
Once the witness has testified, the Presiding Judge shall ask him whether his testimony concerns the accused in the dock. He shall then invite the accused to make any observations in respect of the witness’s statement. He may then arrange any confrontation that he deems necessary between the accused and the witness in order to disclose the facts.
The statement shall be read in public and the witness shall confirm it.
After delivering his testimony, the witness may not leave the courtroom until permitted to do so by the Presiding Judge.

Article 261 
If there are discrepancies or variations between the witness’s testimony and his statements during the initial or preliminary investigation, the Presiding Judge shall order the clerk of the court to note that discrepancy or variation in the record.
The civil party, the representative of the Public Prosecution Office and the accused may request that such discrepancies or variations be noted in the record of the proceedings.
If the discrepancy or variation in the witness’s testimony contributes to the belief that the witness gave false testimony, the Presiding Judge of the Court may, of his own motion or in response to an application from the aforementioned persons, order his arrest.
The representative of the Public Prosecution Office shall charge him with false testimony. The charge shall be noted in the record of the proceedings. The Presiding Judge of the Court, or one of the two Counsellor Judges he delegates, shall then question the witness regarding the offence of false testimony with which he is charged.
The person entrusted with the investigation shall question the witness who has been charged and gather evidence concerning the alleged offence without expressing his opinion regarding the investigation. After completing the investigation, he shall transmit the file to the Public Prosecution Office, which shall draft its submission and forward it to the Indictment Chamber. The Chamber shall issue a ruling to indict or not to indict. If it decides to indict the witness for false testimony, the Court shall rule thereon before or in conjunction with the original case.
An appeal against the Indictment Chamber’s ruling may be filed with the Court of Cassation.

Article 262 
 In the case of a charge of false testimony as set out in the preceding Article, the representative of the Public Prosecution Office, the civil party and the accused may request that the hearing in the original case be deferred until a ruling is delivered on the false testimony case. The Court shall rule on the application. It is also entitled to issue such a ruling proprio motu.
Article 263 
After the witness has finished his testimony, the Presiding Judge of the Court may order – of his own motion or in response to an application from the representative of the Public Prosecution Office, the accused, or the civil party – the removal of specific witnesses from the courtroom and the readmission of one or more of those removed to hear their testimony again separately or in the presence of the others or of some of them, to arrange a confrontation between them, to show them impounded items to discuss them with the accused.
Article 264 
 The Presiding Judge of the Court may, before hearing a witness or during his testimony, have the accused temporarily removed from the courtroom in order to seek explanations from a witness separately or jointly with others. Counsel for the accused shall be present when the explanations are sought from the witness. If counsel leaves the room, his departure shall not invalidate the testimony given in his absence. However, the Court may not proceed with the trial until the accused has been returned to the courtroom and informed of the testimony given in his absence.
If the accused causes a commotion or disturbance in the courtroom while a witness is being heard or during the proceedings, the Presiding Judge of the Court shall order him to desist. If he continues, the Presiding Judge shall order that he be removed from the courtroom, that he remain outside, and that the proceedings continue in his absence.
On conclusion of the hearing, the Presiding Judge of the Court shall order that the accused be notified of the measures taken after his removal, and his notification thereof shall be noted in the record of the proceedings.
Article 265 
A witness who has been fined may raise an objection to the fine before the Court. The Court shall consider his plea and issue a ruling on the objection that may not be appealed on any ground.
– The fine shall be enforced in accordance with the provisions governing the enforcement of fines.
Article 266 
If the Court decides not to further summon a witness on whom it was unable to serve the summons in due form, his statement given during the preliminary police inquiry or the preliminary judicial investigation shall be read out in public and it shall then be discussed between the parties.
– If it appears that a witness did not take the oath before giving his testimony, the Presiding Judge of the Court may summon him again so that he may take the oath at a public hearing and ask him whether he confirms the previous testimony. If he does, the Court may rely on it in its judgement.
Article 267 
If a witness is deaf or mute, or is not proficient in the Arabic language, the provisions of Article 254 of this Code shall be applied when hearing his testimony.
Article 268 
If the Court decides to visit the place in which the offence occurred, it shall set a date and serve notice on all parties to the case. If one of them fails to appear, the Court shall carry out its investigations in his absence. The missing party may seek the information thereon in the case file.
Article 269 
The Presiding Judge of the Court, or the Counsellor Judge whom he delegates, may undertake a supplementary investigation pertaining to the case before the Court and compile a record of a search for clues that are liable to disappear and that might assist in uncovering the truth, or to hear a witness who is close to death. The person responsible for the investigation shall keep records of what has been impounded, or of the information heard, and shall send them to the Court for discussion at a public hearing.
Article 270 
When the Court finishes hearing witnesses and gathering and discussing evidence, it shall hear the claims of the civil party. The representative of the Public Prosecution Office shall then present his evidence and arguments and make his submissions. Counsel for the defence shall then present his client’s arguments and shall also specify his submissions. The Court shall then hear the final statement of the accused and close the proceedings.
Article 271
After the closure of the proceedings, the civil party, the representative of the Public Prosecution Office and the accused may file an application for their reopening, stating the grounds in support of the application. The Court shall grant the application if it appears to be reasonable and acceptable, or if it is based on significant grounds that require further discussion.
Article 272 
After the Presiding Judge of the Court announces the closure of the proceedings, he shall withdraw to chambers with the two Counsellor Judges to deliberate on the case and scrutinize the indictment, the Court’s final investigation, the documents and records contained in the case file, the claims of the civil party, the arguments of the representative of the Public Prosecution Office, the pleadings of counsel for the accused and the final statement of the accused. The Court shall then confer on all the material scrutinized and deliver its unanimous or majority verdict that same day or within no more than ten days. The judgement must be signed by the Presiding Judge, the two Counsellor Judges and the clerk.
– Where a member of the Court fails to sign the judgement, it shall be liable to annulment.
– Where a member of the Court dissents from the judgement, he shall record his dissent and sign it.
Article 273 
If the Court ascertains that the act in question occurred, that the qualification of the offence is valid, and that the evidence shows that it is attributable to the accused, it shall convict him and impose the requisite penalty. It shall also rule on the compensation to be awarded to the civil party if a claim has been filed. It shall confiscate the impounded objects or return them if there is no reason to confiscate them. It may also decide on one or more preventive measures and one or more accessory or additional penalties.
The Court may decide to impose concurrent sentences pursuant to Article 205 of the Criminal Code.

Article 274 
 If the Court ascertains that the evidence in the case file is insufficient to convict the accused, it shall acquit him. If it ascertains that the act attributed to the accused does not constitute an offence or does not entail a penalty, it shall discontinue the proceedings.
If it ascertains that some elements of the felony attributed to the accused are incomplete and that the act constitutes a misdemeanour, it shall amend the legal qualification contained in the indictment, convict the accused of a misdemeanour, and sentence him accordingly.
The judgement delivered by the Criminal Court shall contain the following elements:
(a) A reference to the indictment on the basis of which the Court was seized of the case and to the charges laid before it by the Public Prosecution Office pursuant to the indictment;
(b) A clear summary of the civil party’s claims, the pleadings of the representative of the Public Prosecution Office and counsel for the accused, and a reference to the content of the final statement by the accused;
(c) A clear summary of the facts ascertained from the indictment and the judicial proceedings;
(d) An itemized list of the evidence and the grounds necessitating conviction or acquittal;
(e) A statement of the nature of the offence, identification of the legal qualification applicable thereto and a citation of the relevant legal Article;
(f) Specification of the penalty on conviction;
(g) A statement of the amount of personal compensation;
(h) An order for legal fees and costs.
The Court shall specify in its judgement any aggravating factual circumstances, followed by grounds of excuse, aggravating personal circumstances and mitigating circumstances.
If any ground exists that might justify the act committed by the accused, the Court shall ascertain its existence before deciding that the act does not constitute an offence and hence that the accused is not accountable.
In all cases, the Court shall rule on all motions previously joined to the merits, and shall examine any grounds of the defence and any application filed by the parties to the case.
Article 275 
The Presiding Judge of the Court, or a Counsellor Judge delegated by the Presiding Judge, shall read out the judgement at a public hearing in the presence of the representative of the Public Prosecution Office, the accused, and the civil party. If the accused or the civil party does not attend, the judgement shall nevertheless be read out in his absence. The clerk of the court shall sign the judgement after the reading. He shall then compile a record of the reading of the judgement at the dictation of the Presiding Judge, who may include the conclusions of the judgement therein.
The Presiding Judge, the two Counsellor Judges and the clerk shall sign the record.
If, during the reading of the judgement, a convicted accused causes a disturbance, a commotion or disorder in the courtroom, the Presiding Judge shall order that he be removed and that the reading of the judgement proceed in his absence.
If the conduct of the convicted accused constitutes a misdemeanour, the Presiding Judge shall record the fact and the Court shall examine the offence and sentence him forthwith. The accused may raise a defence during the proceedings pertaining to the misdemeanour that he committed.
Article 276 
If the Court has acquitted the accused or discontinued the proceedings against him, it shall release him forthwith unless he is detained on another ground. He may not be prosecuted subsequently for the same act, even if it is given another qualification.
If the Court ascertains in the course of the proceedings that the accused committed an offence that is not contained in the indictment, it shall remand him in custody, if the act constitutes a felony, to the Public Prosecution Office so that it may initiate the prosecution and refer the matter to the appropriate judicial authority.
If the act constitutes a misdemeanour, it shall prepare a report on the matter and transmit it to the Public Prosecution Office.
If it ascertains that the act with which the accused is charged was committed by another person, it shall, after acquitting the accused, send the case file to the Public Prosecution Office so that it may prosecute the suspect and bring him before the appropriate judicial authority.
Article 277 
The accused may, prior to the closure of the proceedings, file a claim for compensation for damages against the civil party on the ground that he acted in bad faith, abused the right to bring an action, or committed an error in exercising that right. If the Criminal Court acquits the accused or discontinues the proceedings against him, it shall award him appropriate compensation to cover the damage suffered.
Article 278 
If the judgement of acquittal of the accused is based on a lack of evidence, insufficient evidence or doubt, the civil party may file a claim before the Criminal Court for compensation for the damages he sustained, based on the facts set out in the indictment.
If he filed no claim for compensation during the proceedings and prior to their closure, he may still file a claim pursuant to the provisions of the preceding Article.
Article 279 
If the Court ascertains that the act with which the accused is charged does not constitute a felony but a misdemeanour or a petty offence, or if the relevant legal provision has been amended so as to render the act a misdemeanour or a petty offence, the Court shall proceed with the case and deliver a judgement.
Article 280 
If the accused is acquitted or the proceedings discontinued, the civil party shall be ordered to pay the fees and costs of the case. He may be fully or partially exempted from payment if it is found that he acted in good faith and if it was the Public Prosecution Office that initiated the public prosecution. However, if the civil party initiated the public prosecution through a direct complaint, thereby assuming the status of a civil party, he may not be exempted. If he paid a sum of money in advance in connection with his civil action, the amount in excess of the fees and costs of the case shall be reimbursed.
Article 281 
The judgement delivered by the Criminal Court shall be recorded in a special register of judgements. The original copy of the judgement shall be kept in the case file and shall be signed by the bench that delivered the judgement and by the clerk.
Section IV
Rules governing the prosecution of an accused who is a fugitive from justice
Article 282 
If the Indictment Chamber decides to indict a person, it shall issue an arrest warrant against him.
The Public Prosecution Office shall serve the accused with a copy of the indictment, the list of prosecution witnesses and the arrest warrant, in accordance with the rules laid down in Articles 147, 148 and 149 of this Code, and shall refer the case file to the Criminal Court together with its statement of charges based on the indictment. No actions may be taken that are contrary to the provisions of the indictment.
Article 283 
As soon as the file is referred to the Court, the Presiding Judge shall convene a sitting to examine it. He shall issue an order requiring the accused to surrender to the Court twenty-four hours before the beginning of the proceedings. If the accused is informed of the order and fails to surrender to the Court, the Court shall try him in absentia and regard him as a fugitive from justice. It shall order the enforcement of an arrest warrant against him and deprive him of his civil rights, prevent him from disposing of his property and from bringing any case unrelated to his personal status during the period of his flight, and it shall appoint a trustee to administer his property during that period.
The trustee may not dispose of a convicted person’s property without special permission from the Criminal Court.
The Public Prosecution Office shall inform the Land Registry of the Court’s decision in this regard so that it may be noted automatically on the record pertaining to the property of the accused.
Article 284 
The order shall be served on the accused by way of publication and by posting it for a period of ten days at the entrance to his last place of residence, displaying it in the public square of his town or village, and posting it at the entrance to the courtroom.
If the accused has no domicile or no known place of residence in Lebanon, he shall be notified exceptionally through publication of the decision, at the State’s expense, in two local newspapers designated by the Court and in the Official Gazette. It shall also be published by posting it at the entrance to the registry of the Criminal Court.
Article 285 
An accused fugitive may not be represented by counsel at court proceedings conducted in absentia. However, counsel may present an excuse on his behalf after providing evidence of his having been appointed to represent him. If the Court accepts the excuse, after verifying its validity, it shall defer the proceedings until a later date. If the accused does not surrender to the Court twenty-four hours before the new date set, the trial in absentia shall proceed.
Article 286 
After the Court has decided to try an accused in absentia, the Presiding Judge shall order the reading of the indictment, the order summoning the accused and the record of its publication and display. It shall then hear the testimony of the civil party and the arguments of the Public Prosecution Office and shall close the proceedings.
Article 287 
The Court, after reaching a firm conviction, shall deliver its judgement, either by acquitting the accused or convicting him, and imposing a sentence and confirming that his immovable and movable property is administered by a trustee, whom it shall appoint if he was not appointed during the trial. It shall also confirm its decision to enforce the arrest warrant issued against the accused.
The accused shall remain deprived of his civil rights from the date of delivery of the judgement until the lapsation of the sentence imposed either by prescription, by his surrender to justice or by his death.
Article 288 
The Public Prosecution Office shall have a summary of the judgement published in the Official Gazette and in a local daily newspaper within eight days of the date of its delivery. A copy thereof shall be posted at the entrance to the last place of residence of the accused; another shall be displayed in the public square of his town or village; and a third shall be posted at the entrance to the courtroom of the Criminal Court. The summary shall also be communicated to the Secretary of the Land Registry.
The judgement shall enter into force on the date following its publication in the Official Gazette.

Article 289 
 Throughout the entire period that the property of the fugitive convicted person is being administered by the trustee, his wife, children, parents, and anyone in respect of whom he is the legal provider, may file an application with the Summary Affairs Judge whose office is located within the area of jurisdiction of the Criminal Court that delivered the judgement, requiring the trustee to grant them monthly maintenance which shall be levied on the convicted person’s property. The Judge shall issue a decision specifying the amount of the maintenance, taking into account the circumstances and needs of each of the applicants.
The civil party may also file an application with the same Summary Affairs Judge, requiring the trustee to pay him an interim advance in respect of the compensation awarded to him.
The decision shall be enforced on the immovable and movable property of the convicted person through the Enforcement Department.
Article 290 
If the Court ascertains that insufficient investigations have been undertaken to convict the accused fugitive, it shall delegate one of its members to undertake a supplementary investigation in accordance with the normal rules, and to add it to the case file. It shall then deliver a judgement on the case.
If the Court ascertains that there is insufficient evidence against him, it shall acquit him. It shall discontinue the proceedings if it considers that the act with which he is charged does not constitute an offence or does not carry a penalty, or if it is satisfied that he is not accountable because he can invoke a justifiable ground. It may also redefine the act charged if it constitutes a misdemeanour and sentence him for a misdemeanour.
Article 291 
The conviction of a fugitive accused of a felony may not be objected to or appealed before the Court of Cassation.
If the Criminal Court qualified the act described in the indictment as a misdemeanour, the person convicted in absentia may file an objection to the judgement before the Court. The objection shall be governed by the procedure applicable before the Appeal Court when ruling on misdemeanours.
If the Court decides to discharge the convicted person of the count of felony and to compel him to pay personal compensation, he may file an objection against the ruling requiring him to pay compensation, within fifteen days of the date of receiving notice thereof.
If a civil action does not lapse as a result of the expiry of the ten-year prescription period for the public prosecution of a felony, the accused person sentenced to pay personal compensation may object to the judgement within fifteen days of the date of his notification thereof.
In all cases in which an objection is filed against the amount of personal compensation awarded, the Court shall examine the basis of assessment of the compensation awarded in the light of Articles 133 and 134 of the Obligations and Contracts Act.
The civil part of the judgement in absentia shall be irrevocable, once the notification procedures have been completed, pursuant to the relevant provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure.
The beneficiary of the adjudication shall receive an enforceable copy of the judgment pursuant to the rules governing the enforcement of civil judgements.
If the person convicted in absentia is acquitted or it is ruled that the proceedings against him should be discontinued, he may sue the enforcer for unjust enrichment.
Article 292 
If the fugitive convicted person surrenders or is apprehended before the lapsation of the sentence on expiry of the prescription period, the Court shall declare the lapsation of the judgement delivered against him in absentia and of the other procedures undertaken from the date on which it was seized of the case. It shall further prosecute the accused in accordance with the normal rules laid down in Articles 236 et sequitur of this Code. It shall deliver its judgement in accordance with those rules.
If some witnesses cannot be heard before the Court, it shall suffice to read out and deliberate on the testimony that they gave during the preliminary or judicial investigation.
Article 293 
The flight of one of the co-accused may not be invoked as a ground for deferral of the trial or any delay in hearing the case against the other accused.
Article 294 
If the convicted person who is a fugitive from justice is apprehended and denies his identity, the Criminal Court that delivered the judgement against him shall verify his identity.
Chapter IV
The Court of Cassation
Section I
Jurisdiction of the Court of Cassation
Article 295 
The Court of Cassation has jurisdiction in the following cases:
(a) Applications to set aside judgements delivered by Criminal Courts and rulings issued by Criminal Appeal Courts and the Indictment Chamber;
(b) Other applications for cassation falling within its jurisdiction pursuant to special laws;
(c) Applications for retrial of criminal cases;
(d) Applications for designation of a judicial authority;
(e) Applications for transfer of a case;
(f) Offences committed by Judges.

Section II
Grounds for cassation of judgements delivered in cases concerning felonies
Article 296 
Judgements delivered by Criminal Courts may be set aside on any of the following grounds:
(a) Delivery of the judgement by a body that was not legally constituted;
(b) A breach of law or an error in the interpretation or application of law;
(c) A breach of the rules of jurisdiction;
(d) Non-compliance with the applicable procedures entailing nullity, or infringement of fundamental rules during the trial;
(e) A judgement concerning an offence that was not mentioned in the indictment, or against a person who was not charged therein;
(f) Failure to rule on a motion or ground of defence or an application filed by a party to the case, or a judgement exceeding the content of the application;
(g) A non-reasoned judgement, or a discrepancy between the reasoning and the judgement clause or a discrepancy within the judgement clause itself;
(h) Distortion of the facts or of the clear content of the documents presented in the case file;
(i) Lack of a legal basis;
(j) Judgements imposing the death penalty.
Article 297 
A party to a case may not appeal against a judgement on the ground of a breach of a legal rule established in the interests of another party.
Article 298 
The Public Prosecution Office and the convicted person may file a cassation application against a judgement on one or more of the grounds of cassation set out in Article 296 of this Code. If it is cassated on the basis of an application by either of them, the public prosecution shall be referred to the Court of Cassation, which shall proceed on the basis of the rules applicable to a Criminal Court and shall issue a final ruling on the case. A cassation application filed by the civil party shall be confined to the civil portion of the appealed judgement or decision.
If the appealed judgement acquitted the accused, discontinued the proceedings, or found that he was unaccountable, he shall not be tried as a detainee before the Court of Cassation unless a reasoned decision is taken to place him in detention. The provisions of Article 108 of this Code shall be applicable.
If the Public Prosecution Office files an application for the cassation of a judgement that led to the accused being charged or convicted, the person concerned shall be kept in custody during his trial, while respecting the provisions of Article 108 of this Code.
Article 299 
A cassation application filed by a person sentenced for a felony shall be admissible if he is in detention or if he has served his sentence. The Court of Cassation may not release a detained convicted person before cassating the contested judgement.
Article 300 
If the penalty imposed in the contested judgement is that applicable by law to the offence, the convicted person may not file an application for cassation on the ground of an error in citation of the legal clause applied.
Article 301  
The civil party may appeal against the judgement if the personal compensation awarded is less than those claimed.
Section III
Grounds for cassation in cases concerning misdemeanors and petty offences
Article 302 
With the exception of judgements delivered by a body that was not legally constituted, decisions regarding jurisdiction and lapsation of the public prosecution due to expiry of the prescription period, an amnesty, or failure to bring proceedings, a cassation application may not be filed in cases concerning misdemeanors, save on the grounds set out in Article 296 of this Code, provided that there was a discrepancy in the legal qualification of the act between the Judges of first and second instance.
Article 303 
Subject to the provisions of the preceding Article, only the Public Prosecution Office may file a cassation application against rulings made by the Appeal Court concerning petty offences on the ground of the legal qualification, if it considers that the petty offence should be qualified as a misdemeanor.

Article 304 
 A person who challenges an appeal ruling may not invoke grounds unrelated to the content of the ruling or outside the scope of the proceedings that led to the ruling.
Article 305 
The Court of Cassation may not stay the enforcement of a sentence pertaining to a misdemeanor or a petty offence unless it has cassated it.

Section IV
Grounds for cassation of decisions of the Indictment Chamber
Article 306
With the exception of decisions rendered by a body that was not legally constituted, decisions regarding jurisdiction and lapsation of the public prosecution due to expiry of the prescription period, an amnesty, or failure to bring proceedings in the case judged, a cassation application may not be filed against final decisions of an Indictment Chamber except where there was a discrepancy in the legal qualification of the act between the Investigating Judge and the Indictment Chamber, and on one of the following grounds:
1.	A breach of law or an error in the interpretation or application of law;
2.	Non-compliance with the applicable rules entailing nullity, or infringement of fundamental rules in investigations;
3.	Distortion of the facts or of the content of the documents contained in the case file;
4.	Failure to rule on a motion or ground of defence or an application filed by a party to the case;
5.	Lack of a legal basis or defective reasoning.
Article 307 
Without being bound by the grounds for cassation set out in the preceding Article:
(a) The civil party may challenge the indictment ruling on the inadmissibility of his civil action for lack of standing;
(b) The civil party and the Public Prosecution Office may challenge rulings that stay proceedings against the defendant.
Article 308 
An accused who is a fugitive from justice may not challenge the indictment before the Court of Cassation unless he surrenders.

Article 309 
If the Court of Cassation dismisses a cassation application, it shall confiscate the sum deposited as surety, and it may sentence the person who filed the application to a fine of between 100,000 and 500,000 Lebanese pounds if it considers that he abused his right to litigate.
Article 310 
When the indictment ruling that the accused be referred for trial at the Criminal Court becomes final and irrevocable, it shall vest that Court with jurisdiction.
Section V
Procedures and conditions pertaining to an application for cassation
Common provisions

Article 311
In no case may an application for cassation be filed in respect of interlocutory decisions or rulings that precede the final decision or judgement, until after its delivery and concurrently therewith.
Decisions or judgements concerning one or more motions raised under Article 73 of this Code are exempted from the foregoing provision.
The Criminal Chamber of the Court of Cassation shall determine whether any aspect of the contested decision or judgement calls for a stay of the investigation or trial and shall take a decision thereon.
Article 312
Only persons party to the case may file an application for the cassation of the judgement or decision rendered thereon. The person filing a cassation application must have the requisite standing and interest in his application on pain of inadmissibility.

Article 313
The following are entitled to file an application for cassation: the Public Prosecution Office at the Court of Cassation, the Public Prosecution Office at the Appeal Court, the Public Financial Prosecution Office, the civil party, the convicted person, the person incurring civil liability and the guarantor.
The challenge by the Public Prosecution Office shall concern the part of the judgement pertaining to the public prosecution; that of the convicted person shall concern the sentence imposed, the personal compensation awarded and the costs; and that of the civil party shall be confined to the part of the judgement concerning the civil action.
The person incurring civil liability and the guarantor may challenge any judgement or decision requiring them to pay personal compensation.
Article 314
If one of the convicted persons files an application for the cassation of a judgement or decision and the other parties do not, the Court of Cassation may not impose a more severe penalty on the convicted person or increase the compensation awarded against him.

Article 315
Each party to the case may confine its challenge to one aspect of the judgement or decision, which shall be independent from the others.

Article 316
The convicted person, the civil party, the person incurring civil liability and the guarantor may file an application for the cassation of an adversarial judgement delivered by the Criminal Court and an adversarial ruling delivered by the Misdemeanors Appeal Court within fifteen days of the date of its delivery.
The Public Financial Prosecution Office or the Public Prosecution Office at the Appeal Court may file an application for the cassation of an adversarial judgement or ruling within a month of the date of its delivery. The Public Prosecution Office at the Court of Cassation may file an application for it to be cassated within two months of the date of its delivery.
An application for cassation may not be filed against a judgement delivered in absentia against an accused who is a fugitive from justice.
Each party to the case may, within the period specified in the first and second paragraphs of this Article, file an application for the cassation of a ruling on an objection issued by the Misdemeanors Appeal Court.
With respect to the convicted person, the civil party, the person incurring civil liability and the guarantor, the period shall commence on the date of notification of the judgement on the objection, if it was not delivered adversarially. It begins to run with respect to the Public Prosecution Office at the Appeal Court and the Public Prosecution Office at the Court of Cassation on the date of its delivery.

Article 317 
 A cassation application shall be filed with the registry of
the Court of Cassation or the registry of the Court that delivered the
contested judgement.

If it is filed with the latter, the Court shall transmit the case
file to its Public Prosecution Office within not more than five days of
the date of filing so that it may be transmitted to the Public
Prosecution Office at the Court of Cassation for immediate referral to
the Court.

If an application for cassation is filed directly with the Court
of Cassation, the Court shall request that the file be transmitted
through the Public Prosecution Office at the Court of Cassation.
Article 318 
In addition to adhering to the time period set out in Article 316 of this Code, the cassation application shall meet all of the following conditions on pain of dismissal on procedural grounds:
(a) It shall contain the names of the litigants and the name of the Court that delivered the judgement, and shall indicate the contested judgement and the grounds of the cassation application;
(b) It shall be signed by an appeal lawyer and shall contain the original power of attorney or a certified copy thereof, a certified copy of the contested judgement or ruling, exempt from the proportionate fee, and a receipt for the deposit with the Treasury of surety of 200,000 Lebanese pounds.
The Public Prosecution Office shall not be required to present a copy of the contested judgement with its application, or to pay the surety and court fees.

Article 319
Within five days of the date of expiry of the time limit for filing an application for cassation, the applicant may present a submission setting out the grounds for the cassation application. The submission may not include new grounds.
The applicant shall be deemed to have elected a domicile at his counsel’s office. All notices served at that office shall be deemed to be valid if the procedural rules were complied with.
The cassation application shall be recorded in a special register. Each party to the case may consult it and take a true copy thereof.
The surety shall be returned to the applicant if the application is admitted or if he withdraws it before a ruling is issued thereon. It shall be forfeited to the Treasury if the cassation application is dismissed.
The convicted person or the civil party shall be exempted from the surety fee in cases concerning felonies. In cases concerning misdemeanors, the exemption shall be subject to the production of a certificate of indigence.
The Public Prosecution Office shall be exempted from payment of all fees and costs pertaining to an application for cassation.

Article 320 
The respondent to the application for cassation shall, within three days of their submission, receive a copy of the application and its attachments and a copy of the explanatory memorandum. He may submit his observations and claims within ten days of the date of notification.

Article 321 
The Court of Cassation shall examine the cassation application and the case file. If it ascertains that the application was submitted within the legal time limit and that the other formalities were complied with, it shall declare it formally admissible. It shall then study the grounds of the challenge. If it cassates the contested decision, it shall hold new public proceedings to examine the case and deliver a judgement on the merits. During the proceedings, it shall apply the rules applicable to the Court that delivered the contested judgement. It shall then issue its ruling on the case.
If it dismisses the cassation application, it shall uphold the contested judgement or decision, order the forfeiture of the surety fee, and sentence the applicant to a fine of between two hundred thousand and one million Lebanese pounds if it ascertains that he abused his right to litigate.
Article 322 
If the civil party is the only party submitting an application for cassation, only the civil action shall be heard before the Court. The Court of Cassation may not reduce the compensation awarded.

Article 323 
If an application for cassation is submitted by one of several persons convicted of the same offence and the Court of Cassation admits the application in formal terms and on the merits, concluding that elements of the offence concerning which the contested judgement was delivered were lacking, the other convicted persons shall benefit from the setting aside of the judgement.
In such cases, the Public Prosecution Office at the Court of Cassation shall take back the summary of the judgement issued in respect of each one of them.
Article 324 
After cassating the contested judgement or decision, the Court of Cassation shall apply the provisions of Articles 276 and 277 of this Code where the circumstances to which they are applicable exist.
Article 325 
If the Court of Cassation decides to dismiss the cassation application on formal grounds or on the merits, the clerk of the court shall draft a summary of the decision, to be signed by the Presiding Judge of the Court, and shall transmit it within three days of the date of its delivery to the Public Prosecution Office at the Court of Cassation which in turn shall forward it to the Public Prosecution Office at the Appeal Court that delivered the contested judgement, with a view to its enforcement.
Article 326 
Subject to the provisions governing a retrial or those set out in Articles 741 et sequitur of the Code of Civil Procedure, the decisions of the Court of Cassation shall not be open to any form of review.
Section VI
Cassation application in the interests of law

Article 327
Where a Criminal Court delivers a judgement or an Appeal Court issues a ruling that becomes irrevocable on expiry of the time limit for a cassation application, the Public Prosecution Office at the Court of Cassation may, proprio motu or pursuant to a request from the Minister of Justice, file a cassation application solely in the interests of law within one year of its delivery. If the Court of Cassation decides to annul the contested judgement or decision, the convicted person shall benefit from the annulment and shall not suffer prejudice therefrom. In all cases, the judgement shall remain in force for the benefit of the civil party.

Section VII
Application for a retrial

Article 328
The Court of Cassation has jurisdiction to consider applications for a retrial.
An application for a retrial may be submitted in cases concerning felonies and misdemeanors in the following circumstances:
(a) Where, after a person has been convicted of homicide, sufficient evidence comes to light that the alleged victim of the homicide is still alive;
(b) Where, after a person was convicted of a felony or misdemeanor, another person is convicted of the same offence, and under the same qualification, provided that evidence ensues therefrom of the innocence of one of the convicted persons;
(c) Where a person was convicted on the basis of testimony given by another person which was subsequently found to be false testimony in an irrevocable judgement;
(d) Where, following conviction, a new event occurs or new documents are discovered that were unknown to the Court during the trial and that are liable to constitute evidence of the innocence of the convicted person.
The extinction of the sentence imposed due to expiry of the prescription period shall not preclude the hearing of an application for a retrial.

Article 329
The convicted person shall submit the application to the Criminal Chamber of the Court of Cassation through the Public Prosecutor at the Court.
The application may be submitted by his legal representative in the event of incapacity or if his absence has been confirmed by a judicial ruling, or by one of his heirs or their legatees if he is deceased.
The application shall be accompanied by a certified true copy, exempt from fees, of the judgement to be reviewed and of the substantiating evidence, a copy of the power of attorney of the lawyer who signed the application, and a receipt for the deposit of a surety amounting to 200,000 Lebanese pounds.
The Public Prosecutor at the Court of Cassation shall refer the application to the competent Criminal Chamber of the Court, together with his submissions, within one week.

Article 330
Where the Court of Cassation finds an application for a retrial admissible in its form, it shall consider the merits of the case. It may conduct a supplementary investigation if necessary.

Article 331
If the Court, on considering an application for a retrial, annuls the contested judgement delivered against one of a number of living convicted persons because the act of which he was convicted has been decriminalized or because the convicted person is exempted from punishment, this annulment shall suffice.
If the annulment is based on decriminalization of the acts involved, all other convicted persons shall benefit therefrom.

Article 332
Where an application for a retrial is submitted after the death or loss of capacity of the convicted person through one of the persons mentioned in Article 329 of this Code, the Court shall consider the application. If it decides to annul the contested judgement and to acquit the convicted person or to discontinue proceedings, it shall order that its judgement be displayed on the Court’s notice board, in the place where the offence occurred, in the place of residence of the convicted person, in the Official Gazette, and in two local daily newspapers. The State shall bear the costs of publication.
Article 333
If it decides to acquit the convicted person or to discontinue proceedings, the judgement shall have retroactive effect, rendering void all consequences of the previous judgement except for entitlements acquired in good faith.
The Court may decide, on the basis of a claim from the applicant for a retrial, to award him compensation for the damage he sustained from the previous judgement.
If the convicted person is deceased, the right to claim compensation shall be transferred to his heirs or their legatees.
The Court shall determine the amount of compensation on the basis of the rules laid down in the Obligations and Contracts Act.
The State shall be liable for the compensation awarded. It may claim restitution from anybody who was responsible for the delivery of the previous judgement.
Article 334
The applicant for a retrial shall pay an advance in respect of the costs of the case pending delivery of a ruling on his application. The subsequent costs shall be paid by the State.
Section VIII
Application for the designation of a judicial authority

Article 335
In the event of a jurisdictional dispute between judicial authorities, the Criminal Chamber of the Court of Cassation shall designate the competent judicial authority.
Where an offence occurs and where two investigators seize themselves of the same offence, or two courts take up the same case after each declared that it had jurisdiction, or where each of two investigators or courts declare that they lack jurisdiction, or where a court decides that it lacks jurisdiction to try a case referred to it pursuant to an order issued by an Investigating Judge or an Indictment Chamber, and where the jurisdictional dispute hampers the course of justice owing to the irrevocable nature of two contradictory rulings in the same case, the dispute shall be settled by the designation of a judicial authority.
The provisions of this Article shall be applicable if a dispute arises between an Ordinary Court and a Special Court.

Article 336
The Public Prosecution Office, the civil party, and the defendant may file an application for the designation of a judicial authority with the Court of Cassation, which shall order the Public Prosecution Office to provide it with copies of the documents pertaining to the case before the two judicial authorities involved in the dispute.
A copy of the application for the designation of a judicial authority shall be served on each party to the case and they may each respond to it within ten days of the date of service.

Article 337
When the judicial authorities involved in the dispute are informed of the application for the designation of a judicial authority, they shall suspend delivery of a final decision in the case.
Interlocutory measures and investigations may continue pending the designation of a judicial authority.

Article 338
The Criminal Chamber of the Court of Cassation shall consider the application for the designation of an authority after the expiry of the ten-day time limit.
It shall take a decision in camera on the designation of the competent judicial authority within a period not exceeding one month.
It may also annul the measures and actions taken by the judicial authority that is divested of the case.
Its decision shall not be open to any kind of review.
The two judicial authorities involved in the dispute shall comply with the ruling.

Article 339
Where the civil party or the defendant was not justified in filing his application, he shall be sentenced to a fine of between two hundred thousand and one million Lebanese pounds and to pay compensation to his adversary where a claim has been filed.
Section IX
Application for transfer of the case
Article 340 
A Criminal Chamber of the Court of Cassation shall rule on applications for the transfer of a case from one judicial authority to another. It shall relieve one authority of the case, at the investigative or trial stage, and refer it to another authority at the same level to continue the proceedings, because it proved impossible to constitute the authority with original jurisdiction or because the investigation or trial was suspended, or to maintain public order, to ensure the proper administration of justice or on the ground of legitimate suspicion.
Only the Public Prosecutor at the Court of Cassation may request that a case be transferred on the ground of maintenance of public order.
Where the judicial authority in respect of which an application for transfer is filed is a Criminal Chamber of the Court of Cassation, the full bench of the Court of Cassation shall rule on the application.
The Public Prosecutor at the Court of Cassation may apply to transfer a case for one of the reasons set out in the first paragraph, of his own motion or pursuant to an application from the Appeal Court Prosecutor, the Public Financial Prosecutor, the civil party, the defendant or the Minister of Justice.
The application for a transfer shall be served on all parties to the case, who may respond within ten days of the date of service.
The filing of the application shall not interrupt the course of proceedings unless the Court of Cassation decides otherwise.
Article 341
Where two Investigating Judges attached to a single department are seized with connected offences, the First Investigating Judge from the Court in question may appoint one of them to proceed with the investigation.
Where the two Investigating Judges are attached to separate departments, the competent Criminal Chamber of the Court of Cassation, acting on an application from the Public Prosecutor at the Court, shall appoint an Investigating Judge to proceed with the case.
Article 342 
Any ruling on the transfer of a case delivered by the Court of Cassation shall be served on all the parties to the case through the Public Prosecution Office at the Court of Cassation. This ruling shall not be subject to any kind of appeal.
If the Court of Cassation dismisses the application, its ruling shall not preclude the submission of another application, provided that it is based on facts that come to light after the date of the first application.
Article 343 
Where the civil party or the defendant files an application for transfer of the case and the application is dismissed by the Court of Cassation; it may sentence the applicant to a fine of between two hundred thousand and one million Lebanese pounds and award compensation to the adversary if he has filed a claim.
In all these cases, the ruling of the Court of Cassation shall not be open to any kind of review.
Section X
Offences committed by Judges
Article 344 
The Court of Cassation has jurisdiction to try offences committed by Judges, either outside the context of their duties or when they arise from or were committed in the course of the performance of their duties.
Article 345 
Where a Judge of a Court of first instance, an Investigating Judge, an Advocate-General attached to the Public Prosecution Office of an Appeal Court or a Financial or Military Court, a Counsellor Judge attached to an Appeal Court, a Counsellor Judge attached to an Administrative Court or the Audit Court, or a Deputy Counsellor Judge attached to the State Council commits an offence constituting a misdemeanor outside the context of the performance of his duties, he shall be prosecuted by the Public Prosecution Office at the Court of Cassation proprio motu or on the basis of a complaint from the aggrieved party. The case shall be tried before the full bench of the Court of Cassation.
Article 346 
Where a misdemeanor is attributable to a Presiding Judge of an Appeal Division, a Public Prosecutor at an Appeal Court, the Financial Prosecutor, the Government Commissioner, a Court of Cassation Judge, a member of the Public Prosecution Office at the Court of Cassation or a First Investigating Judge, he shall be prosecuted by the Public Prosecution Office at the Court of Cassation proprio motu or on the basis of a complaint from the aggrieved party. The case shall be tried before the full bench of the Court of Cassation.
Article 347 
If the act attributable to a Judge, irrespective of his level, constitutes a felony, the First Presiding Judge of the Court of Cassation shall appoint a Judge of at least the same level as the defendant Judge to hear the case.
The Public Prosecutor at the Court of Cassation shall lay the charges and conduct the public prosecution.

Article 348 
 If the circumstances make it necessary to arrest the Judge charged with a felony, the Judge conducting the investigation shall issue an arrest warrant against him. However, its enforcement shall require the approval of the First Presiding Judge of the Court of Cassation.
The Judge shall be detained in a special place to be determined by the Public Prosecutor at the Court of Cassation.
Article 349 
 The Judge entrusted with the investigation shall consult the Public Prosecutor at the Court of Cassation in all cases in which the law requires an Investigating Judge to consult the Public Prosecution Office at an Appeal Court.
The Judge conducting the investigation may substitute for detention of the defendant Judge supervisory measures designed to curb his mobility or freedom to travel. If he violates any of them, or if the investigator ascertains that they are ineffective, he shall issue an arrest warrant pursuant to the provisions of Article 348 of this Code.
The Judge entrusted with the investigation shall follow the rules applied by an Investigating Judge in criminal cases.
Appeals against the rulings of the Judge entrusted with the investigation may be lodged with the panel provided for in Article 350 of this Code, in accordance with the rules applicable to appeals against the rulings of an Investigating Judge.
Article 350 
The investigation file shall be submitted to a panel composed of three Judges of at least the same level as the defendant Judge. They shall be appointed by the Supreme Council of the Judiciary. The panel shall be presided over by the most senior Judge, or by a Presiding Judge appointed by the First Presiding Judge of the Court of Cassation.
The panel shall perform the duties of an Indictment Chamber. It shall refer the accused Judge to a Criminal Chamber of the Court of Cassation if he is one of the Judges mentioned in Article 345 of this Code and to the full bench of the Court of Cassation if he is one of the Judges mentioned in Article 346 of this Code.
If the panel ascertains that there is insufficient evidence to indict him, or that elements of the offence are lacking, it shall stay proceedings against the defendant Judge.
The rulings delivered by the panel are not open to any kind of review.

Article 351 
Articles 344 to 350 inclusive of this Code shall be applicable to offences committed by Judges in circumstances arising from the performance of their duties.
All these provisions shall be applicable to Judges of the State Council, Judges of the Audit Court and retired Judges holding honorary office.
Article 352 
The party aggrieved by the offence attributed to the Judge may claim compensation pursuant to the public prosecution.
He may not bring a direct action initiating a public prosecution.
Where the offence committed did not arise from the performance of or in connection with judicial duties, he shall claim compensation against the defendant Judge.
However, where it arose from or in connection with the performance of such duties, the aggrieved party may bring an action against the State, the Judge, or against both of them.
Article 353 
If a Judge charged with a misdemeanor or a felony arising from or committed outside the context of the performance of his duties had a co-perpetrator, an accomplice, an instigator or a concealer, the prosecution, investigation and trial shall also include such persons.
If the investigation fails to establish the identity of such persons, or if it is impossible or too late to prosecute them, this shall not affect the prosecution of the Judge and the hearing of his case.
Article 354 
If the Presiding Judge of the Supreme Council of the Judiciary, the Presiding Judge of the State Council, the Public Prosecutor at the Court of Cassation, the Presiding Judge of the Audit Court or the Presiding Judge of the Judicial Inspection Board commits an offence that constitutes either a misdemeanor or a felony outside the context of, during or in connection with the performance of his duties, he shall be tried before a panel composed of five Judges appointed by a decree of the Council of Ministers based on a proposal by the Minister of Justice.
The members of the panel shall be selected from among active Judges or retired Judges holding honorary office, on condition that none of them has a level lower than level XVII.
The Public Prosecutor at the Court of Cassation shall personally conduct the prosecution unless he was one of the persons who committed or participated in the commission of the offence. In that case, a Judge of a level no lower than level XVII shall be appointed by a decree of the Council of Ministers to take his place in charge of the proceedings solely in connection with the offence in question.
The Minister of Justice, with the consent of the Supreme Council of the Judiciary, shall appoint a Judge of at least the same level as the Judge appearing before him to investigate the offence.
The rules laid down in Articles 345 et sequitur shall be applicable to the prosecution and trial of the aforementioned persons.
The Presiding Judge of the appointed panel of Judges shall perform the duties of the First Presiding Judge of the Court of Cassation with regard to authorizing the detention of the defendant Judge.
Chapter V
The Court of Justice
Article 355 
Cases shall be referred to the Court of Justice pursuant to a decree of the Council of Ministers.
Article 356 
The Court of Justice shall try the following offences:
(a) The offences defined in Articles 270 to 336 inclusive of the Criminal Code;
(b) The offences defined in the Law of 11 January 1958;
(c) All offences pertaining to weapons and equipment transactions concluded or being concluded by the Ministry of National Defence, as well as related or ancillary offences, particularly those defined in Articles 351 to 366 inclusive, Articles 376, 377 and 378 and Articles 453 to 472 inclusive of the Criminal Code, and in Articles 138 and 141 of the Code of Military Justice.
Cases concerning such offences under review before the Military and Ordinary Courts shall be referred to the Court of Justice, which shall exercise jurisdiction over both civilians and military personnel pursuant to the referral decree.
Article 357 
The Court of Justice is composed of the First Presiding Judge of the Court of Cassation as Presiding Judge and four Court of Cassation Judges appointed by a decree of the Council of Ministers based on a proposal of the Minister of Justice and with the consent of the Supreme Council of the Judiciary.
The decree shall designate one or more additional Judges to replace the principal Judge in the event of his death, withdrawal, dismissal or end of service.
The Public Prosecution Office shall be represented before the Court of Justice by the Public Prosecutor at the Court of Cassation or by one of his assistants whom he delegates.
Article 358 
If the First Presiding Judge of the Court of Cassation is unable to preside over the Council bench, the most senior appointed member shall preside.
Article 359 
The Court of Justice shall be convened at the Palace of Justice in Beirut, at the place in which the offence occurred if necessary, or in any other place designated by the Presiding Judge if it cannot be convened at the Palace of Justice in Beirut.
Article 360 
The Public Prosecutor at the Court of Cassation or an Advocate-General delegated by him from the Public Prosecution Office at the Court of Cassation shall initiate and exercise the public prosecution.
The investigation shall be conducted by an Investigating Judge appointed by the Minister of Justice with the consent of the Supreme Council of the Judiciary.
Article 361 
The Public Prosecutor at the Court of Cassation shall present the charges to the Judicial Investigator investigating the offence and refer the investigation file to him.
Article 362 
The Judicial Investigator may issue all warrants required by the investigation without being requested by the Public Prosecution Office. His decisions in this regard are not open to any kind of review.
He shall deal with the case rationae materiae. If the investigation reveals the existence of a participant in the offence, he shall question him as a defendant even if his name is not among those against whom charges were brought by the Public Prosecution Office.
The Public Prosecution Office may bring charges subsequently against any person who was not mentioned in the original statement and the investigator shall question him as a defendant.
Article 363 
Subject to the provisions of the preceding Article, the Judicial Investigator shall apply the rules followed before the Investigating Judge, except for the period of detention stipulated in Article 108 of this Code.
The Public Prosecutor at the Court of Cassation may consult the case file and make such submissions and requests as he sees fit.
The aggrieved party may bring a civil action following the public prosecution.
Article 364 
On completion of the investigation, the Public Prosecution Office at the Court of Cassation shall present its submissions on the merits. The Judicial Investigator shall decide, in the light of the results of the investigation and the documents pertaining to the case, either to stay proceedings against the defendant or to indict him and refer him to the Court of Justice.
The indictment issued by the Judicial Investigator shall comply with the rules governing the issuance of indictments by the Indictment Chamber.
The Judicial Investigator shall issue an arrest warrant against the accused. If he failed to issue a warrant, he shall do so pursuant to a request by the Public Prosecutor at the Court of Cassation, even if he is no longer seized of the case.
If the judicial investigator is deceased or unable to do so, the Presiding Judge of the Court of Justice shall issue an arrest warrant against the accused at the beginning of his trial.
Article 365 
The Public Prosecution Office at the Court of Cassation shall serve a copy of the indictment and the list of prosecution witnesses on each of the accused five days before the date of the hearing. Similarly, the accused shall notify the Public Prosecutor at the Court of Cassation of the list of defence witnesses five days before the date of the hearing. The civil party may submit a list of his witnesses within the same time limit and shall present a copy thereof to the Public Prosecution Office at the Court of Cassation and the accused five days before the date of the hearing.
Article 366 
The trial shall be held, either adversarially or in absentia, before the Court of Justice in accordance with the rules governing proceedings before the Criminal Court. The Council shall deliver its judgement in accordance with the same rules.
The judgements of the Court of Justice are not open to any kind of review of an ordinary or extraordinary nature.
Article 367 
The Court of Justice may, proprio motu or pursuant to an application from the Public Prosecution Office at the Court of Cassation, conduct a supplementary investigation into the case by the full bench or through any of its members delegated for the purpose.
Part VII
Suspensive issues
Article 368 
The Criminal Judge seized of a public prosecution has jurisdiction to rule on any motion raised before him unless it constitutes a suspensive issue or the law provides otherwise.
Article 369 
The following shall constitute suspensive issues:
(a) Matters pertaining to immovable property and other real property entitlements;
(b) Matters pertaining to citizenship;
(c) Matters pertaining to civil status, except for determination of age;
(d) Administrative matters;
(e) Civil matters, where rulings concerning them affect the determination of elements of the alleged offence, provided that they were pending before the competent civil judicial authority prior to the initiation of the public prosecution;
(f) Criminal matters, where the ruling regarding elements of the offence depends on the decision rendered in that regard.
Article 370 
When a suspensive issue is raised before him, the Criminal Judge shall ascertain, before suspending consideration of the case with which he is seized, whether it is based on serious grounds and whether a ruling thereon is necessary and relevant to a ruling in the criminal case.
If the Criminal Judge decides to admit a motion concerning a suspensive issue, he shall set a time period for consultation of the competent legal authority. If the person who raised the motion complies with the time limit, the Criminal Judge shall suspend the hearing of the case pending a ruling on the suspensive issue. If he does not, he shall proceed with the case.
The Criminal Judge who defers a decision on the case shall not be prevented from taking any investigative measures that he considers necessary or urgent.
Part VIII
Cases of forgery
Chapter I
Primary cases of forgery

Article 371 
Where the Public Prosecutor learns of the existence of a document in a public department that is alleged to be a forgery, he shall attend the scene in person or appoint a colleague with the task of carrying out all the necessary examinations and checks there. He may also order that suspected forged documents be taken to his office.
The person suspected of having made the forgery and those persons who participated with him shall be brought before the Investigating Judge.
Article 372 
When the Investigating Judge is seized of the case, he shall instruct his clerk to draft a detailed record describing the document alleged to be a forgery.
The Investigating Judge and his clerk shall sign the record as well as the document, noting on it “Not to be modified.”
The suspect document and the record shall be deposited with the Investigation Department.
Article 373 
If the document that is alleged to be a forgery was in a public department, it shall be signed by the head of the department before being transferred to the Investigation Department. He shall hand it over as soon as he is notified of the Investigating Judge’s decision. If he fails to do so, the Investigating Judge shall order that he be brought before him together with the document.
If the Investigating Judge ascertains that there is no legal ground for his failure to hand over the document, he shall sentence him to a fine of between two hundred thousand and one million Lebanese pounds.
The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to any private individual with a suspected forged document in his possession.
Article 374 
When an official document is impounded, a true copy thereof certified by the Investigating Judge and his clerk shall be left with the party who held the document.
If the document was deposited with a public official, the true copy thereof shall replace the original until its return. The official may issue a reproduction of the certified copy indicating that the original is deposited with the Investigating Judge for the purposes of a forgery investigation.
If the document forms part of a register from which it cannot be removed, the Investigating Judge may order that the register be transferred to his department.
Article 375 
It is possible to allege that documents are forgeries even when they have been used in judicial, administrative or other proceedings.
Anyone who has made use of an allegedly forged document shall be bound to sign it.
The document in question shall be placed in a secure depository at the Court with the annotation “Not to be modified.”
Article 376 
The Investigating Judge may request the services of technical experts to compare the handwriting and signature on the allegedly forged document with any authentic signatures or handwriting. He may require the defendant to take dictation himself or call upon the experts to do so. If the defendant refuses to write, this shall be noted in the record of his interview.
Article 377 
Ordinary documents may be used for the purpose of collation, conformity or comparison, with the consent of the plaintiff and the defendant.
If the person holding the documents is not a public official, he shall be required to hand them over pursuant to the provisions of Article 373 of this Code.
Article 378 
Investigations in forgery cases shall be conducted in accordance with the rules of criminal procedure applicable to other offences.
The Public Prosecutor and the Investigating Judge may enter the homes of any person suspected of counterfeiting official State seals, of forging coins, banknotes and Amiri stamps, of smuggling such counterfeited or forged objects into Lebanese territory, or of being involved in their circulation, even if the home of such person is outside their area of jurisdiction.
Chapter II
Incidental and auxiliary cases of forgery
Article 379 
The Public Prosecution Office and the other parties may, at any stage of the proceedings, raise an allegation of forgery with respect to any document produced in the case.

Article 380 
The incidental charge of forgery shall be filed with the registry of the Court hearing the case. The plaintiff shall identify the allegedly forged document and present the supporting evidence.
Article 381 
The Court hearing the case shall refer the incidental charge to the Public Prosecution Office so that it may present its submission. It may suspend the original case until the relevant legal authority issues a ruling on the incidental forgery case, provided that the ruling in the original case depends on the outcome of the incidental case.
If the original case before it relates solely to personal compensation, it shall defer the proceedings until a judgement is delivered in the forgery case.
Article 382 
In the event of an irrevocable ruling that no forgery has occurred, the Court that suspended its hearing of the original case on the ground of the incidental charge of forgery shall sentence the person who filed the charge of forgery to a fine of between five hundred thousand and one million Lebanese pounds and to the payment of indemnity.
Article 383 
Where an ordinary document is found to be a forgery, the Court shall declare it null and destroy it. Where an official document is found to be a forgery, in whole or in part, the Court dealing with the forgery case shall either declare that the document is invalid or shall order that it be restored to its original state by deleting any addition or inserting any deletion.
In the latter case, the document shall be attached to a summary of the Court’s judgement. Documents used for the purpose of collation or comparison shall be returned to their respective sources.
Article 384 
The rules applied in primary forgery cases shall also be applicable to incidental forgery cases.

Part X
Rules relating to Pardons
Article 391 
The Supreme Council of the Judiciary has jurisdiction to consider applications for pardons submitted by persons sentenced to death by definitive judgement, or referred to it by the competent authorities.
Article 392
 All applications for pardons in respect of a death penalty shall be submitted to the President of the Republic directly or through the Minister of Justice in the form of an application signed by the convicted person, his counsel or a member of his family. The application shall be exempt from stamp duty and legal charges.
Article 393 
When the death sentence becomes irrevocable, the Minister of Justice shall refer the case file, together with the report of the Public Prosecutor at the Court of Cassation, to the Supreme Council of the Judiciary, which has ten days to deliver its opinion on the enforcement or commutation of the sentence.
Article 394 
The Presiding Judge of the Supreme Council of the Judiciary or a Council member delegated by him shall prepare a report summarizing the facts of the case, the evidence on which the judgement was based, together with the grounds for application for pardon, and shall give his opinion on the application.
Article 395 
After hearing the statement by its rapporteur and examining the documents, the Supreme Council of the Judiciary shall consider the charge against the convicted person, the evidence on which the judgement was based, the grounds provided in support of the application for pardon, and the pre-conditions for enforcement or commutation of the death sentence to another sentence. It shall deliver its opinion in camera either to reject the application or to grant it, with a proposal to commute the death sentence, and shall submit a report to the Minister of Justice.
Article 396 
The Supreme Council of the Judiciary shall set up a Commission, composed of three of its members, to consider all other applications for special pardon. The Commission may decide, in accordance with the above-mentioned rules, on applications for pardon in respect of judgements imposing sentences other than the death penalty for felonies or for misdemeanors.
Article 397 
When an application for pardon is filed, enforcement of the judgement shall be stayed if the sentence consists of a fine or imprisonment for less than one year, where the convicted person is not already in detention, pursuant to a notice sent by the President of the Commission to the Public Prosecutor at the Court of Cassation informing him of the receipt of the application for pardon.
Article 398 
If the President of the Republic rejects the application for pardon, a person sentenced to hard labor for life or for a period of at least ten years may not file another application until three years have elapsed in the first case and two years in the second case, from the date of notification of the rejection. In other cases the convicted person may file a second application for pardon after one year has elapsed. He may not file a further application if the sentence consists of a fine or imprisonment for one year or less. However, this shall not preclude the President of the Republic from exercising his right to order the submission of a new application for pardon to the Commission.
Article 399 
 If the President of the Republic grants the application for pardon, he shall issue a decree to that effect.
Part XI
Judicial supervision of remand centres and prisons and protection of personal freedom from unlawful detention
Article 400 
Detention orders shall be enforced by placing the persons to be detained in detention centres. Convicted persons shall be incarcerated in prisons, where the judgements against them shall be enforced.
Article 401 
Detention centres and prisons shall be established and organized pursuant to a decree issued by the Council of Ministers.
Article 402 
The Appeal Court Prosecutor or the Public Financial Prosecutor, the Investigating Judge and the Single Criminal Judge shall examine the situation of persons held in detention centres and prisons in their respective areas of jurisdiction once a month. Each of the aforementioned persons may order those responsible for detention centres and prisons in their respective areas of jurisdiction to undertake such measures as are required by the investigation and the trial.
Article 403 
Where the Appeal Court Public Prosecutor, the Financial Public Prosecutor or the Single Criminal Judge, each within his area of jurisdiction, obtains knowledge of the unlawful detention of any person, he shall release the person after verifying whether the custody is unlawful. If any one of them ascertains that there is a lawful ground for detention, he shall send the detainee forthwith to the competent judicial authority and prepare a record of the fact. If any of them fails to comply with the foregoing provisions, he shall be subject to disciplinary action.
Article 404 
Irrevocable criminal judgements delivered by Criminal and Appeal Courts and the Court of Cassation shall be enforced by the Public Prosecutor of the Court that rendered the judgement. The Single Criminal Judge shall enforce the judgements he delivers. Enforcement of the provisions of judgements shall be ensured by means of written instructions to the Internal Security Forces.
Article 405 
The provisions of Articles 53 to 65 inclusive and Articles 112 to 117 inclusive of the Criminal Code shall be applicable to the enforcement of criminal judgements.
Article 406 
The day on which the enforcement begins shall be calculated as part of the term of the sentence. The convicted person shall be released on the day on which the term of the sentence ends. Enforcement of a custodial sentence of twenty-four hours ends on the day after the beginning of enforcement. The period of enforcement of a custodial sentence or a sentence restricting liberty shall begin on the date of apprehension of the convicted person pursuant to the judgement delivered against him; any period spent in pre-trial detention shall be deducted therefrom.
Article 407 
If the accused or defendant is acquitted of the offence for which he was placed in pre-trial detention, the period spent in detention shall be deducted from the sentence for any other offence he may have committed before or during his detention.
Article 408 
In the case of multiple custodial sentences or sentences restricting liberty imposed against a defendant or accused, the period of detention shall be deducted first from the lightest sentence.

Article 409 
If a pregnant woman is convicted, enforcement of the sentence shall be deferred until ten weeks after delivery of her child.
Article 410 
If a custodial sentence or a sentence restricting liberty is imposed on a person suffering from a life-threatening illness, the sentence may be enforced in the prison hospital.
Article 411 
If a custodial sentence or a sentence restricting liberty is imposed on a person suffering from insanity or serious mental illness, the Public Prosecution Office may order that he be placed in a mental hospital. The period spent in the hospital shall be deducted from the sentence imposed. If the illness persists, the legal provisions applicable to mentally ill persons shall be applied to him.
Article 412 
A detained person shall be released on delivery of a judgement of acquittal or exemption from punishment, imposition of a non-custodial sentence, imposition of a suspended sentence, or where the detainee has already served the period of the sentence in pre-trial detention.
Article 413 
If the convicted person is sentenced to pay personal compensation, court fees and a fine, and his funds are insufficient to meet all those payments, the sentence shall be enforced on the basis of the following priorities:
(a) Personal compensation;
(b) Court fees;
(c) The fine.
Article 414 
The personal compensation awarded pursuant to the civil party’s claim and the advance in respect of legal fees and costs shall be enforced pursuant to the provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure.
Article 415 
A person sentenced to pay court fees shall pay them to the Treasury within ten days of the date of receiving notice to pay following an irrevocable judgement. If he fails to pay that sum, the Public Prosecutor shall order his imprisonment for a period of twenty-four hours for every ten thousand Lebanese pounds owed. The period of imprisonment may not exceed six months. The convicted person may not be imprisoned for failure to pay court fees if he was a minor when the offence was committed. If the period spent in detention exceeds the term of imprisonment, a sum shall be deducted from the fine and court fees in accordance with the rate set out above.
Article 416 
The rule governing apportionment set out in Article 53 of the Criminal Code shall be applicable to the court fees.
Article 417 
If the convicted person serves a period of imprisonment in lieu of the fine and court fees, his debt to the Treasury shall diminish accordingly.
Article 418 
If a convicted person who is imprisoned for failure to pay the fine and court fees expresses the wish, while in prison, to discharge his debt to the State, the Public Prosecutor or his deputy shall order that he be released from prison and produced before him to pay the sums due, following deduction of the sum equivalent to the period spent in prison. If the convicted person pays the entire sum required on arrest, he shall be released forthwith and the order to imprison him for failure to pay the fine and court fees shall be annulled.
Article 419 
In the event of the death, flight or incapacity of the convicted person, the court fees and the fine shall be collected in accordance with the procedure for the collection of Amiri funds by the Ministry of Finance.
Article 420 
A death penalty shall be enforced only after consultation of the Pardon Commission and with the consent of the President of the Republic. The judgement shall be enforced pursuant to a decree specifying the place and means of execution. A death penalty shall not be executed on Sundays or Fridays, or on national or religious holidays. A death penalty shall not be enforced against a pregnant woman until ten weeks after she has given birth.
Article 421 
The death penalty shall be executed in the presence of the following persons:
(a) The Presiding Judge of the Court that delivered the judgement. If he is unable to attend, the First Presiding Judge of the Court of Cassation shall appoint a Judge to replace him;
(b) The Public Prosecutor at the Court that delivered the judgement, or one of his deputies;
(c) A Judge of the Civil Court of first instance which has jurisdiction in the place of execution;
(d) The clerk of the Court that delivered the judgement;
(e) The lawyer of the convicted person;
(f) A member of the clergy of the religious community to which the convicted person belongs;
(g) The prison governor;
(h) The Beirut Judicial Police Commissioner or his deputy, or the Gendarmerie commander responsible for the place of execution or his deputy;
(i) The prison doctor or the forensic pathologist of the region.
Article 422 
The Civil Judge referred to in subparagraph (c) of the preceding Article shall ask the convicted person whether he wishes to say anything or to make a statement before execution of the judgement. This shall be noted in a special record signed by him and his clerk.
Article 423 
The clerk of the court that delivered the judgement shall draw up a record of the execution of the death penalty and it shall be signed by the persons mentioned in subparagraphs (a), (b) and (d) of Article 421 of this Code at the place of execution. A copy of the record shall be displayed for twenty-four hours at the place of execution. The clerk shall attach a copy of the record of the execution of the judgement to the original copy of the judgement deposited with the registry of the court.
Article 424 
It is prohibited to publish any statement regarding execution of the death penalty in the newspapers apart from the record mentioned in the preceding Article. Anyone who breaches this prohibition shall be liable to the penalty provided for under Article 420 of the Criminal Code.
Part XII
Problems relating to the enforcement of criminal judgements
Article 425 
Once a Court delivers its judgement, it is no longer seized of the case.
Article 426 
If a purely factual error, or one of a clerical or computational nature, occurs in the judgement or ruling delivered by a judicial authority, the authority may correct the error proprio motu or pursuant to a request from one of the parties to the case. The decision to correct shall be taken in camera and the correction shall be recorded in the margin of the judgement or ruling.
Article 427 
Any request for interpretation in relation to a judgement shall fall under the jurisdiction of the Court that delivered it. It shall rule thereon after consulting the Public Prosecution Office.
Part XIII
Transitional provisions
Article 428 
The Code of Criminal Procedure promulgated on 18 September 1948 and its amendments are hereby revoked. All legal provisions and texts that are inconsistent or in conflict with this Code are likewise revoked.
Article 429 
This Code shall enter into effect three months after its publication in the Official Gazette.

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Advanced: edit structured JSON

The JSON below mirrors the original law structure. Update it only if you need to correct per-article text. Keep keys identical; only translate the values.

{
    "law": {
        "id": 5,
        "title": "Code of Criminal Procedure",
        "published_at": "2001-07-08"
    },
    "nodes": [
        {
            "id": 217,
            "name": "General Provisions",
            "number": null,
            "articles": [
                {
                    "id": 71,
                    "body": "The Code of Criminal Procedure is concerned with organizing the criminal judiciary, defining its jurisdiction, the procedures to be followed in investigation and trial, and the means of appeal against the judgments and decisions issued by it.\r\nIt is also concerned with organizing the investigation of criminal facts and the evidence thereof as a means to apply criminal laws.",
                    "position": 1,
                    "article_number": "1"
                },
                {
                    "id": 72,
                    "body": "Ordinary criminal courts are divided into:\r\nA- A single judge who considers all misdemeanor and infraction cases except those excluded by a special provision.\r\nThe public prosecution does not appear before him.\r\nB- A Court of Appeal, each chamber of which consists of a president and two advisors. The public prosecution is represented by an appellate public prosecutor or one of the public attorneys at the Court of Appeal or the financial public prosecutor or one of the public attorneys at the financial public prosecution.\r\nC- A Court of Cassation, each chamber of which consists of a president and two advisors.\r\nThe public prosecution is represented by the cassation public prosecutor or one of the public attorneys at the Court of Cassation.",
                    "position": 2,
                    "article_number": "2"
                },
                {
                    "id": 73,
                    "body": "The investigation department in each governorate consists of a chief investigating judge and one or more investigating judges as determined by the Judicial Judiciary Law.\r\nA chamber of the civil courts of appeal undertakes the functions of the indictment body in each governorate.",
                    "position": 3,
                    "article_number": "3"
                },
                {
                    "id": 74,
                    "body": "The Judicial Judiciary Law specifies the manner in which judicial judges are appointed, the number of chambers of the Court of Cassation in the capital, the number of chambers of the Court of Appeal, and the number of single judges, investigating judges, and public attorneys in both the capital and the governorates and districts.",
                    "position": 4,
                    "article_number": "4"
                }
            ],
            "category": "Paragraph",
            "children": [],
            "position": 1
        },
        {
            "id": 218,
            "name": "Public Lawsuit and Civil Lawsuit",
            "number": null,
            "articles": [
                {
                    "id": 99,
                    "body": "The public right lawsuit, aimed at prosecuting perpetrators of crimes and their accomplices and applying penalties and measures against them, is entrusted to the public prosecutors concerned in this law. As for the personal right lawsuit for compensation for damage resulting from crimes, it is a right for every injured party.\r\nEvery person against whom a public right lawsuit is filed is called a defendant, and is called a suspect if suspected of a misdemeanor and an accused if charged with a felony.",
                    "position": 5,
                    "article_number": "5"
                },
                {
                    "id": 100,
                    "body": "The public prosecution undertakes the tasks of exercising the public right lawsuit. It is not permissible to waive it or settle it.\r\nA personal right lawsuit may be filed in conjunction with the public right lawsuit before the judicial authority where this lawsuit is filed, and it may also be filed separately before the civil authority.",
                    "position": 6,
                    "article_number": "6"
                },
                {
                    "id": 101,
                    "body": "The victim of the crime may take the status of personal plaintiff before the first investigating judge in felonies and misdemeanors or before the single judge in misdemeanors and violations.\r\nHe may join the public lawsuit before the criminal court.\r\nThe victim, by his claim, initiates the public right lawsuit if the public prosecution has not initiated it. He may withdraw his personal claim or settle it without affecting the public lawsuit except in cases where the public lawsuit is dropped following the dropping of the personal right lawsuit.",
                    "position": 7,
                    "article_number": "7"
                },
                {
                    "id": 102,
                    "body": "If the victim files his lawsuit before the competent civil court, he may not withdraw it and file it before the criminal court unless the public prosecution has initiated the public lawsuit at a date later than his claim before the civil court, provided that the civil lawsuit has not been decided by a final judgment.\r\nThe civil authority must suspend consideration of the civil lawsuit until the public right lawsuit is decided by a final judgment. The urgent matters court remains competent to take urgent measures even if the personal right lawsuit is filed before the criminal court.",
                    "position": 8,
                    "article_number": "8"
                },
                {
                    "id": 103,
                    "body": "The public lawsuit is filed before the criminal authority within whose jurisdiction the crime occurred or to which the place of residence of the defendant or the place of his arrest belongs.",
                    "position": 9,
                    "article_number": "9"
                },
                {
                    "id": 104,
                    "body": "- Amended\r\nThe public right lawsuit is dropped for one of the following reasons:\r\nA- By the death of the defendant.\r\nB- By general amnesty.\r\nC- By the passage of time: ten years for felonies, three years for misdemeanors, and one year for violations.\r\nD- By the dropping of the personal right lawsuit in the cases stipulated by law.\r\n- The statute of limitations begins in instantaneous crimes from the date of their occurrence. In continuous, ongoing, or successive crimes, it begins only from the end of the criminal state.\r\n- Every act of prosecution, investigation, or trial interrupts the statute of limitations on the public lawsuit.\r\n- The reasons that interrupt the statute of limitations on the public lawsuit also interrupt it on the personal right lawsuit. However, the reasons that interrupt it on the personal right lawsuit do not lead to its interruption on the public lawsuit.\r\n- The statute of limitations ceases to run if, due to force majeure, it is impossible to carry out any act of prosecution, investigation, or trial, and it resumes as soon as it is removed.\r\n- The provisions of the statute of limitations mentioned above do not prevent the observance of special provisions for certain misdemeanors and violations.\r\n- The criminal court handling the lawsuit continues to consider the personal right lawsuit if the public lawsuit is dropped for one of the first mentioned reasons, and it must order the confiscation of seized items if they are legally prohibited.\r\n- The statute of limitations on the personal right lawsuit is subject to civil law.\r\nThe provisions of the Penal Code apply to the statute of limitations on imposed penalties.\r\n\"The statute of limitations on the crimes stipulated in Article 401 does not begin until the victim is released from prison, detention, or temporary arrest if not followed by imprisonment.\r\nIn evidence\r\n\"All statements made as a result of any act stipulated in Article 401 are nullified in any proceedings, except if it is against a person accused of committing torture as evidence of making these statements.\"",
                    "position": 10,
                    "article_number": "10"
                }
            ],
            "category": "Paragraph",
            "children": [],
            "position": 1
        },
        {
            "id": 219,
            "name": "Public Prosecution",
            "number": "First",
            "articles": [
                {
                    "id": 255,
                    "body": "The functions of the Public Prosecution at the Court of Cassation are carried out by an Attorney General assisted by public attorneys.\r\nThe functions of the Financial Public Prosecution at the Public Prosecution of Cassation are carried out by an Attorney General assisted by public attorneys.\r\nThe functions of the Public Prosecution at the Court of Appeal are carried out by an Attorney General assisted by one or more public attorneys.\r\nThe functions of the Public Prosecution at the Military Court are carried out by a Government Commissioner subject to the authority of the Attorney General of Cassation, assisted by one or more public attorneys.",
                    "position": 11,
                    "article_number": "11"
                },
                {
                    "id": 256,
                    "body": "A - Among the public attorneys mentioned in the third paragraph of Article 11, there shall be one or more dedicated environmental public attorneys appointed by the Attorney General of Appeal to prosecute environmental crimes according to the procedures specified in the applicable laws.\r\nB - The environmental public attorney prosecutes the environmental crime and identifies the names of the defendants. He may prosecute an unknown party before the investigating judge, thereby initiating the public prosecution, or directly prosecute before the competent courts.\r\nC - Environmental crimes are considered to be crimes resulting from:\r\n\r\n1 - Violating laws and regulations related to the protection of forest wealth, forests, natural reserves, biodiversity, and the protection of air, water, and soil from pollution, as well as those related to combating damage caused by noise and sound.\r\n2 - Violating laws and regulations related to quarries, sandpits, and crushers.\r\n3 - Violating environmental laws and regulations that specify environmental conditions for classified institutions of various kinds.\r\n4 - Violating environmental laws and regulations that protect public and private properties of the state and municipalities, territorial waters, and environmental encroachments on marine and river properties and groundwater.\r\n5 - Violating laws related to waste disposal of all kinds, especially medical waste from hospitals and chemical and nuclear waste.\r\n6 - Violating the provisions of Law No. 444 dated 29\/7\/2002 and all other legal provisions related to environmental protection wherever they exist.\r\n7 - Violating laws and regulations that protect antiquities and cultural and natural heritage.\r\n\r\nD - The environmental public attorney may seek the assistance of specialists in environmental affairs and in matters of antiquities and cultural heritage to perform the technical and artistic tasks assigned to them, after they take the legal oath if they are not sworn experts.\r\nE - The heads of clerks in the competent courts must inform the Ministry of Environment of every final environmental criminal judgment issued against a natural or legal person for it to be recorded in the special register referred to in clause (b) of Article (5) of this law, within three months from the date it becomes final.\r\nF - Judgments and decisions issued in environmental cases, including the decision to dismiss the case, shall be published in two local newspapers.",
                    "position": 12,
                    "article_number": "11-مكرر"
                },
                {
                    "id": 257,
                    "body": "Each Attorney General heads his district and distributes the work within his jurisdiction to the public attorneys who assist him.",
                    "position": 13,
                    "article_number": "12"
                }
            ],
            "category": "Section",
            "children": [],
            "position": 2
        },
        {
            "id": 220,
            "name": "Duties of the Attorney General at the Court of Cassation",
            "number": "First",
            "articles": [
                {
                    "id": 273,
                    "body": "- Amended\r\nThe Public Prosecution at the Court of Cassation is headed by an Attorney General appointed by a decree issued by the Council of Ministers based on the proposal of the Minister of Justice. He is assisted by public attorneys.\r\nThe authority of the Attorney General at the Court of Cassation includes all public prosecution judges, including the Government Commissioner at the Military Court. He may issue written or verbal instructions to each of them in conducting public right cases.\r\nHowever, they retain the freedom to speak during trial sessions.\r\nHe refers to each of them, according to their jurisdiction, the reports and records he receives regarding a crime and requests them to initiate a public right case.\r\nSubject to the provisions of Article 79 of the Law on the Regulation of the Legal Profession and in all cases where criminal prosecution requires a license or approval from any non-judicial authority, and in case of disagreement between this authority and the Appellate Public Prosecution or the Financial Public Prosecution or the Government Commissioner at the Military Court, the Attorney General at the Court of Cassation, contrary to any general or specific text, has the final decision in this matter.",
                    "position": 14,
                    "article_number": "13"
                },
                {
                    "id": 274,
                    "body": "- Amended\r\nThe Minister of Justice may request the Attorney General at the Court of Cassation to conduct prosecutions regarding crimes that come to his knowledge. The latter has the right, when necessary, to conduct the investigation directly or through his assistants from the public prosecution judges attached to him or the judicial police officers under his authority, without having the right to prosecute.",
                    "position": 15,
                    "article_number": "14"
                },
                {
                    "id": 275,
                    "body": "The Attorney General at the Court of Cassation may supervise the judicial police officers in the scope of their work as assistants to the public prosecution. He may direct to their superiors any observations he deems necessary regarding their aforementioned work, and request the Appellate Public Prosecutor or the Financial Public Prosecutor or the Government Commissioner at the Military Court to prosecute anyone who commits a criminal offense among them during or in the course of their duties without requesting permission to prosecute.\r\nThe judicial judiciary shall have jurisdiction over this crime despite any contrary text.",
                    "position": 16,
                    "article_number": "15"
                },
                {
                    "id": 276,
                    "body": "Each of the Appellate Public Prosecutor, the Financial Public Prosecutor, the Government Commissioner at the Military Court, the Director General of Internal Security Forces, the Director General of General Security, and the Director General of State Security must inform the Attorney General at the Court of Cassation of serious crimes they become aware of and comply with his directives regarding them.\r\nHe may review the investigation file conducted by one of the investigating judges and request the competent public prosecutor to provide an opinion that aligns with his written directives.\r\nHe may issue a warning to one of the public prosecution judges due to what he attributes to him as negligence in his work or propose to the Judicial Inspection Authority to refer him to the disciplinary council.",
                    "position": 17,
                    "article_number": "16"
                },
                {
                    "id": 277,
                    "body": "The Attorney General at the Court of Cassation undertakes the following tasks:\r\nA - Requesting the annulment of criminal judgments and decisions according to the procedures specified in this law.\r\nB - Requesting the designation of the reference and requesting the transfer of the case from one court to another.\r\nC - Prosecuting crimes referred to the Judicial Council.\r\nD - Prosecuting crimes committed by judges, whether arising from the function or outside it.\r\nE - Representing the public prosecution at the Court of Cassation and the Judicial Council.\r\nF - Preparing extradition files for criminals and referring them to the Minister of Justice accompanied by his reports.\r\nG - Preparing a detailed report to be attached to the file of the person sentenced to death when referred to the Special Pardon Committee.\r\nH - All other tasks and powers mentioned in this law and elsewhere.",
                    "position": 18,
                    "article_number": "17"
                }
            ],
            "category": "Title",
            "children": [],
            "position": 3
        },
        {
            "id": 221,
            "name": "Duties of the Financial Public Prosecution",
            "number": "Second",
            "articles": [
                {
                    "id": 295,
                    "body": "The appointment of the Financial Public Prosecutor is made by a decree issued by the Council of Ministers based on the proposal of the Minister of Justice.\r\nThe Financial Public Prosecutor, within the limits of the tasks specified for him in this law, enjoys the powers of the Public Prosecutor at the Court of Cassation.",
                    "position": 19,
                    "article_number": "18"
                },
                {
                    "id": 296,
                    "body": "The Financial Public Prosecutor undertakes the prosecution of the following crimes:\r\nA - Crimes arising from the violation of the provisions of tax and fee laws in various public facilities and institutions and municipalities, including state and municipal taxes, customs duties, and telecommunication fees.\r\nB - Crimes arising from the violation of banking laws, financial institutions, and stock exchange laws, especially those stipulated in the Code of Money and Credit.\r\nC - Crimes arising from the violation of joint-stock company laws and crimes of multinational companies.\r\nD - Crimes that undermine the financial standing of the state or Lebanese or foreign banknotes legally or customarily circulated in Lebanon, and crimes of counterfeiting, forging, and promoting currency, public bonds, stamps, and stamped papers.\r\nE - Crimes of embezzlement of public funds.\r\nF - Bankruptcy crimes.",
                    "position": 20,
                    "article_number": "19"
                },
                {
                    "id": 297,
                    "body": "Prosecution in banking crimes resulting from the violation of the Code of Money and Credit shall not proceed except upon a written request from the Governor of the Central Bank of Lebanon.\r\nProsecution in violations related to customs duties shall not proceed except upon a written request from the Director General of Customs.\r\nIn cases where the competent administration has the right to reconcile with the defendant, the public right lawsuit is dropped if reconciliation occurs before the judgment is issued.\r\nThe execution of the penalty is suspended if reconciliation occurs after it, unless a legal provision states otherwise.",
                    "position": 21,
                    "article_number": "20"
                },
                {
                    "id": 298,
                    "body": "The Financial Public Prosecutor exercises his powers stipulated in this law under the supervision of the Public Prosecutor at the Court of Cassation, within the principles and rules applied by the Appellate Public Prosecutor as specified in this law and in financial laws.\r\nThese powers cover all Lebanese territories.\r\nIn this regard, he may request, through the Public Prosecutor at the Court of Cassation, the Appellate Public Prosecutor in all governorates to initiate a public right lawsuit before investigating judges or to directly prosecute before the competent courts.",
                    "position": 22,
                    "article_number": "21"
                },
                {
                    "id": 299,
                    "body": "The Financial Public Prosecutor may seek the assistance of specialists in banking, tax, and financial matters, after they take the legal expertise oath, to carry out the technical and professional tasks assigned to them unless they are sworn experts.\r\nThe Public Prosecutor at the Court of Cassation may request, either automatically or based on the request of the Financial Public Prosecutor, through the Minister of Justice to the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, to assign the Central Inspection Board to conduct any investigation in financial cases entrusted to him for consideration.",
                    "position": 23,
                    "article_number": "22"
                },
                {
                    "id": 300,
                    "body": "The Financial Public Prosecution maintains a special criminal record related to all companies concerned with Decree No. 3094 dated 25\/01\/1993. All criminal judgments issued against them are recorded in it.\r\nThe heads of clerks at the competent courts must inform the Financial Public Prosecution of every criminal judgment issued or to be issued against the company for the purpose of recording it in the special criminal record for companies, within three months from the date of its issuance.",
                    "position": 24,
                    "article_number": "23"
                }
            ],
            "category": "Title",
            "children": [],
            "position": 4
        },
        {
            "id": 222,
            "name": "Duties of the Appellate Public Prosecution and its Procedures in the Case of a Flagrant Crime",
            "number": "Third",
            "articles": [],
            "category": "Title",
            "children": [
                {
                    "id": 223,
                    "name": "Duties of the Appellate Public Prosecution",
                    "number": "First",
                    "articles": [
                        {
                            "id": 302,
                            "body": "The appellate public prosecution is tasked with:\r\nA - Investigating crimes that are misdemeanors or felonies and prosecuting those involved in committing them. It may directly request the assistance of security forces when performing its duties. Upon learning of a serious crime, it must immediately inform the Attorney General at the Court of Cassation and execute his instructions.\r\nB - Initiating and pursuing public right lawsuits.\r\nC - Representing the public prosecution at the courts of appeal and criminal courts and executing the judgments issued by them.\r\nD - Issuing a search and investigation notice if the person complained about or suspected is not found or their residence is unknown, including their full identity and the crime attributed to them.\r\n- Upon executing the search and investigation notice, the public prosecution that issued it must be contacted immediately.\r\n- The search and investigation notice is automatically nullified after ten days from its issuance unless the Attorney General decides to extend it for a period of thirty days, after which it is automatically nullified.\r\nE - Dropping criminal judgments or preventing or suspending their execution according to the provisions of Article 147 of the Penal Code.\r\nF - Other tasks assigned to it in this law and other laws.\r\nThe public prosecutor at the Court of Appeal may perform the duties of the appellate public prosecutor as specified in this law.",
                            "position": 25,
                            "article_number": "24"
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 303,
                            "body": "Special Procedures for Investigation and Inquiry \r\n1 - Upon receiving a complaint or report regarding the crimes stipulated in Article 401, the public prosecution must, within 48 hours, decide either to dismiss the complaint or to prosecute before the investigating judge without conducting any preliminary investigation or inquiry in this regard except by itself, except for necessary decisions to preserve and seize evidence and appoint a forensic doctor to examine the alleged torture victim if the complaint or report attachments do not include a medical report of this kind. \r\n2 - The investigating judge handling the case must personally undertake all investigation procedures regarding the acts stipulated in Article 401 of the Penal Code, without delegating the judicial police or any other security apparatus to perform any procedure except for technical tasks. \r\n3 - Any of the public prosecution, investigating judiciary, or courts may, urgently, take measures and decisions aimed at ensuring the protection of the complainant and witnesses from all kinds of mistreatment or intimidation resulting from the complaints and reports they receive, and treat torture victims during their hearing and trial in a manner that preserves evidence and takes into account their psychological state resulting from their exposure to torture.",
                            "position": 26,
                            "article_number": "24-مكرر"
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 304,
                            "body": "The public prosecution is informed of crimes by one or more of the following means:\r\nA - Investigations it conducts itself.\r\nB - Reports it receives from the official authority or from an employee who learned of a crime during the performance of his duties or in the course or occasion of performing them.\r\nIt has the right to conduct investigations in public administrations and institutions without the right to prosecute.\r\nC - Preliminary investigations conducted by the judicial police when tasked with investigating crimes and the reports they prepare upon learning of them.\r\nD - Complaints and reports it receives directly or through the public prosecution at the Court of Cassation or its assistants.\r\nE - Any legitimate means that allows it to obtain information about the crime.",
                            "position": 27,
                            "article_number": "25"
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 305,
                            "body": "The appellate public prosecution prosecutes the crime and identifies the names of the defendants.\r\nIt may prosecute an unknown person before the investigating judge, thereby initiating a public lawsuit with its prosecution.",
                            "position": 28,
                            "article_number": "26"
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 306,
                            "body": "A complaint is one that is issued by an affected person or their agent, while a report is sourced from an informant who learned about the crime or heard about it.\r\nA report is not accepted unless it is submitted in writing and signed by its author or their agent.\r\nThe complaint or report must clearly and fully state the name of the complainant or informant and their place of residence.",
                            "position": 29,
                            "article_number": "27"
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 307,
                            "body": "Any person who witnesses an assault on public security or on a person's safety, life, or property must report it to the appellate public prosecutor or one of his assistants in the area where the crime occurred, where the perpetrator was arrested, or where the perpetrator resides.\r\nIf they refrain without a legitimate excuse from reporting, they will be prosecuted before the single criminal judge in the area where the crime occurred and punished with a fine ranging from a minimum of two hundred thousand Lebanese pounds to a maximum of one million Lebanese pounds.",
                            "position": 30,
                            "article_number": "28"
                        }
                    ],
                    "category": "Chapter",
                    "children": [],
                    "position": 1
                },
                {
                    "id": 224,
                    "name": "Procedures of the Public Prosecution in the Flagrant Crime",
                    "number": "Two",
                    "articles": [
                        {
                            "id": 308,
                            "body": "A crime is considered to be in flagrante delicto:\r\nA - A crime that is witnessed at the time of its occurrence.\r\nB - A crime where the perpetrator is caught during or immediately after its commission.\r\nC - A crime where the suspect is pursued based on people's outcry.\r\nD - A crime that is discovered immediately after its commission, with clear evidence indicating it.\r\nE - A crime where a person is found with items, weapons, or documents indicating they committed it, within twenty-four hours of its occurrence.",
                            "position": 31,
                            "article_number": "29"
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 309,
                            "body": "A crime that occurs inside a house is considered in flagrante delicto if the owner or one of the occupants requests the public prosecutor to investigate it within twenty-four hours of its discovery, whether it is a felony or misdemeanor.",
                            "position": 32,
                            "article_number": "30"
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 310,
                            "body": "If a felony in flagrante delicto occurs, the public prosecutor or the public attorney must immediately proceed to the crime scene upon being informed, notifying the first investigating judge or the duty investigating judge of their departure without being obliged to wait for them to begin:\r\nA - Drafting a report documenting the observed evidence and describing the crime scene and any indications of the circumstances under which it occurred.\r\nB - Seizing the weapons and other criminal materials used in its commission and all items that help uncover the truth, and interrogating the suspect about the seized items after presenting them to him.\r\nC - Listening to individuals who witnessed the crime or have information about it after administering the legal witness oath.\r\nEvery statement is recorded in a report signed by the public prosecutor or public attorney, the clerk, and the witness. If the latter refuses to sign, this is noted in the report.",
                            "position": 33,
                            "article_number": "31"
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 311,
                            "body": "The public prosecutor or public attorney may prevent anyone found at the crime scene from leaving. Anyone who violates the prohibition is prosecuted before the single judge of the jurisdiction where the crime occurred and is fined between two hundred thousand and two million Lebanese pounds.\r\nIf a person among the attendees is strongly suspected, the public prosecutor or public attorney orders their arrest, interrogates them, and keeps them detained for investigation for no more than forty-eight hours, unless an additional period is deemed necessary for the investigation, in which case their detention is extended for a similar period.\r\nThe suspect enjoys the rights stipulated in Article 47 of this law, and the public prosecutor or public attorney must inform them of all these rights and record their stance on benefiting from them or not in the report and obtain their signature on it, under penalty of nullity of the interrogation and subsequent procedures.\r\nIf the suspect manages to evade or is not present at the start of the investigation, the public prosecutor or public attorney issues a warrant for their appearance. When they appear, they are immediately interrogated after being informed of their rights under Article 47, and their stance on benefiting from them is recorded in the report or not, and their signature is obtained on it, under penalty of nullity of the interrogation and subsequent procedures.\r\nA report is not a sufficient reason to issue a warrant for someone with a known residence.\r\nProcedures related to the felony in flagrante delicto cease after eight days from their initiation.",
                            "position": 34,
                            "article_number": "32-معدلة"
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 312,
                            "body": "The public prosecutor may enter the suspect's home to search for materials deemed helpful in illuminating the investigation.\r\nThey may seize what they find and draft a report detailing and describing the seized items accurately and decide on the preservation of the seized materials according to their nature, conducting the search in the presence of the suspect or the accused.\r\nIf the suspect is not present, refuses to attend, or is evading, the search is conducted in the presence of their agent or two adult family members or two witnesses chosen by the public prosecutor.\r\nAfter completing the search and seizure, the public prosecutor presents the seized items to the suspect, the accused, their agent, or the aforementioned individuals and requests each to sign the report documenting them. If they refuse, this is noted in the report.\r\nIf the public prosecutor finds prohibited items during the search, they are seized even if they are not related to the crime or used in it, and a separate report is drafted.\r\nThe public prosecutor may assign a judicial officer to conduct the search in the suspect's or accused's home under their supervision and monitoring, following the procedures the public prosecutor themselves would follow.\r\nEntering homes for search or suspect pursuit is only allowed between five in the morning and eight at night unless the homeowner explicitly consents outside this period. However, the public prosecutor or the assigned judicial officer may conduct the search and suspect pursuit at any time in public places or homes that have acquired this character through practice.",
                            "position": 35,
                            "article_number": "33"
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 313,
                            "body": "If the nature of the crime or its effects require the assistance of one or more experts to clarify certain technical or artistic issues, the public prosecutor appoints the specialized expert and precisely defines their task.\r\nIf the victim's condition requires medical examination or autopsy, the public prosecutor summons the forensic doctor or the specialized doctor and assigns them the task to be executed accurately and clearly.\r\nThe expert or doctor does not commence their task until they take an oath to perform it according to conscience and honor.\r\nThey are not entitled to exceed the defined task.\r\nAfter completing it, they draft a report mentioning the authority that appointed them, the defined task, the procedures they undertook, and the conclusion they reached.",
                            "position": 36,
                            "article_number": "34"
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 314,
                            "body": "The public prosecutor undertakes any other investigative procedures deemed necessary to gather useful information about the felony, provide evidence, and identify the perpetrators or accomplices.\r\nThe procedures must be lawful and free from defects of moral or physical coercion.\r\nThey must document in the reports all procedures undertaken, specifying the start and end times of each procedure and any means used in its execution. Each report is then signed by the public prosecutor and the clerk who assisted them.",
                            "position": 37,
                            "article_number": "35"
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 315,
                            "body": "The public prosecutor must cease their investigations into the crime in flagrante delicto upon the arrival of the investigating judge and hand over the reports they drafted and the materials they seized, except those unrelated to the crime and seized due to their prohibited nature.\r\nThey must file a complaint before the judge regarding the crime committed against anyone for whom evidence or suspicions of involvement in its commission exist.\r\nIf the period for the crime in flagrante delicto expires without the arrival of the investigating judge, the public prosecutor must conclude their investigations and refer the documents to the investigating judge along with their complaint.",
                            "position": 38,
                            "article_number": "36"
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 316,
                            "body": "The single judge, upon the occurrence of a crime in flagrante delicto within their jurisdiction, must proceed to the location to conduct the investigation if the public prosecutor or investigating judge has not arrived and follow the procedures prescribed for the public prosecutor in this regard.\r\nThey must cease their investigations upon the arrival of either.\r\nWhen they complete their investigations, they refer them to the public prosecutor.",
                            "position": 39,
                            "article_number": "37"
                        }
                    ],
                    "category": "Chapter",
                    "children": [],
                    "position": 2
                }
            ],
            "position": 5
        },
        {
            "id": 294,
            "name": "Judicial Police",
            "number": "Second",
            "articles": [],
            "category": "Section",
            "children": [
                {
                    "id": 295,
                    "name": "Judicial Police Personnel",
                    "number": "First",
                    "articles": [
                        {
                            "id": 335,
                            "body": "- Amended\r\nThe functions of judicial police are performed under the supervision of the Attorney General at the Court of Cassation by the public prosecutors and assistant public prosecutors.\r\nThe following assist the public prosecution and work under its supervision in performing the functions of judicial police, each within the limits of their jurisdiction as stipulated in this law and in their specific laws:\r\n1- Governors and district commissioners.\r\n2 - The Director General of Internal Security Forces, officers of the Internal Security Forces, judicial police, non-commissioned officers working in regional sectors, and heads of Internal Security Forces stations.\r\n3 - The Director General of General Security, officers of General Security, non-commissioned officers in General Security investigations, the Director General of State Security, the Deputy Director General, officers of State Security, and non-commissioned officers in State Security investigations.\r\n4 - Village chiefs.\r\n5 - Captains of maritime vessels and captains of aircraft and aerial vehicles.\r\n6 - Officers of the Fire Brigade and heads of Civil Defense centers concerning crimes against the environment.\r\n7 - Forest rangers, village guards, and guards of archaeological sites appointed according to regulations concerning crimes against the environment.",
                            "position": 40,
                            "article_number": "38"
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 336,
                            "body": "Village guards, monitoring employees in the Ministry of Health, forest rangers, consumer protection inspectors, and specialized employees in customs control, the Tobacco and Tobacco Monopoly Administration, ports and airports, and the Ministry of Tourism, as well as night guards, are authorized to record violations, each within their jurisdiction and according to the regulations they are tasked with enforcing. They must document these violations in properly organized reports and submit them to the competent single judge.",
                            "position": 41,
                            "article_number": "39"
                        }
                    ],
                    "category": "Title",
                    "children": [],
                    "position": 1
                },
                {
                    "id": 296,
                    "name": "On the Procedures of Judicial Police in Flagrant and Non-Flagrant Crimes",
                    "number": "Second",
                    "articles": [
                        {
                            "id": 337,
                            "body": "The judicial police in the case of a flagrante delicto crime shall undertake the procedures that the public prosecutor would undertake when it is impossible for him to carry them out himself. The judicial officer must adhere to the procedures specified by law for the public prosecutor when he is investigating a flagrante delicto crime.\r\nAdditionally, the judicial police, outside of flagrante delicto crimes, shall be tasked by the public prosecution with investigating crimes, whether felonies or misdemeanors, that are the subject of complaints and reports referred to them by the public prosecution.",
                            "position": 1,
                            "article_number": "40"
                        }
                    ],
                    "category": "Title",
                    "children": [
                        {
                            "id": 297,
                            "name": "Procedures of Judicial Police in Flagrant Offense",
                            "number": "First",
                            "articles": [
                                {
                                    "id": 390,
                                    "body": "If a flagrant crime occurs, the judicial officer immediately moves to the scene and informs the competent public prosecutor.\r\nThe judicial officer, under the supervision of the public prosecution, performs the following procedures:\r\n1 - Preserves the traces, landmarks, and evidence that are perishable and everything that helps to reveal the truth, including electronic evidence, while observing the provisions of Law No. 81\/2019 regarding personal data. Seizes the weapons and materials used in the crime or resulting from it.\r\n2 - Listens to witnesses without administering an oath. Conducts investigations and arrests those with strong suspicions of committing the crime or contributing to it, searches their home, and seizes any criminal materials or prohibited items found. Seeks expertise when necessary.\r\n3 - May interrogate the suspect provided that they give their statements with conscious free will and without any form of coercion against them. If they remain silent, they cannot be forced to speak.\r\nThe interrogated person enjoys the rights stipulated in Article 47 of this law, and the judicial officer conducting the investigation under the supervision of the public prosecution must inform them of all these rights and record their position regarding benefiting from them or not, and obtain their signature on it, under penalty of nullity of the interrogation and subsequent procedures.\r\nThe judicial officer investigating the flagrant crime must adhere to the instructions of the competent public prosecutor and keep them informed of the proceedings.\r\nIf the competent public prosecutor assigns the judicial officer certain tasks within their jurisdiction, they must comply with the content of the assignment.",
                                    "position": 42,
                                    "article_number": "41-معدلة"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 391,
                                    "body": "If the flagrant crime is a felony, and the necessities of the investigation require keeping the suspect detained for a longer period, the extension of the period up to a maximum of four days is done by a written and reasoned decision from the appellate public prosecutor, issued after reviewing the file and verifying the reasons for the extension.\r\nThe suspect or their agent or any family member has the right to request during the additional period the appointment of a doctor to examine them. The public prosecutor must appoint the specialist doctor immediately upon receiving the request, and the doctor must conduct the examination without the presence of the judicial officer and submit their report to the public prosecutor within no more than twenty-four hours. In any case, the detention period is deducted from the sentence that may be imposed.\r\nThe judicial officer is committed to complete confidentiality in all procedures they undertake. If it is proven that they disclosed the contents of documents or messages or any secrets that the suspect is keen to keep confidential, they are prosecuted before the single criminal judge within whose jurisdiction the complained act occurred and punished with imprisonment from one month to one year and a fine from two hundred thousand to two million Lebanese pounds or one of these penalties.",
                                    "position": 43,
                                    "article_number": "42-معدلة"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 392,
                                    "body": "If the judicial officer sees that there are papers or items useful for the investigation with a person against whom strong suspicions have not been established, the public prosecutor or the investigating judge, not the judicial officer, may search this person's home unless the latter agrees without coercion for the judicial officer to conduct the search.\r\nAny search conducted by the judicial police in a home, contrary to the procedures specified by law for the public prosecutor in a flagrant felony, is void. The judicial officer who enters the home contrary to these procedures and conducts a search is subject to prosecution for the misdemeanor stipulated in Article 375 of the Penal Code. However, the nullity in this regard is limited to the invalid procedure and does not extend to other investigation procedures.",
                                    "position": 44,
                                    "article_number": "43"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 393,
                                    "body": "If the public prosecutor or the investigating judge is present, the judicial officer must stop continuing their procedures unless one of them assigns them in writing to continue. The assignment may include interrogating the suspect.\r\nThe judicial officer is not entitled, after the end of the flagrant crime situation, to conduct any additional investigation but must refer the reports they have prepared to the public prosecutor immediately after the end of this situation along with the materials seized during the search.",
                                    "position": 45,
                                    "article_number": "44"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 394,
                                    "body": "Any person, in the case of a flagrant crime, whether a felony or a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment, has the right to arrest the perpetrator caught in the act and bring them to the nearest judicial police station.",
                                    "position": 46,
                                    "article_number": "45"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 395,
                                    "body": "If the flagrant crime is a misdemeanor punishable by at least one year of imprisonment, the judicial officer may arrest the suspect and investigate the misdemeanor under the supervision of the public prosecutor.\r\nThe public prosecutor may decide to detain the accused of the misdemeanor and refer them directly to the single judge for trial according to the procedures stipulated in this law.",
                                    "position": 47,
                                    "article_number": "46"
                                }
                            ],
                            "category": "Chapter",
                            "children": [],
                            "position": 1
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 298,
                            "name": "Procedures of Judicial Police Outside of In-Flagrante Delicto Crimes",
                            "number": "Second",
                            "articles": [
                                {
                                    "id": 403,
                                    "body": "Judicial officers, as assistants to the public prosecutor, are tasked with the duties assigned to them by the public prosecutor to investigate non-flagrant crimes, gather information about them, conduct investigations aimed at uncovering the perpetrators and accomplices, and collect evidence against them. This includes seizing criminal materials, conducting physical inspections of crime scenes, and performing scientific and technical studies on the traces and marks left behind, as well as hearing witness statements without swearing them in, and the statements of the accused or suspects.\r\nIf the suspects or accused refuse to speak or remain silent, this is noted in the report, and they cannot be coerced into speaking or interrogated under penalty of nullifying their statements.\r\nThe suspect or accused enjoys the following rights before being heard in both flagrant and non-flagrant crimes, whether the investigation is conducted by the public prosecutor or the judicial police, and immediately upon being detained for investigation purposes:\r\n1 - To contact a lawyer of their choice and a family member, employer, or acquaintance.\r\n2 - To have a lawyer present during their interrogation or when their statements are being heard and to meet with them.\r\nThe investigator must inform the suspect or accused of these two rights before starting the interrogation or hearing and must record their stance on whether they wish to exercise these rights in the report and obtain their signature.\r\nThe lawyer is appointed by a declaration recorded in the report without the need for a formal power of attorney, provided that a formal power of attorney is presented at the first investigation or trial session.\r\n\r\n- The meeting between the suspect or accused and the lawyer must ensure the confidentiality of their conversation and should last no more than thirty minutes. The date and time of the start and end of the meeting are recorded in the report, and it is signed by both the lawyer and the suspect or accused.\r\nIf a delay is requested to appoint a lawyer, a period of twenty-four hours is granted for this purpose.\r\nThey must inform the public prosecutor of the procedures they undertake and adhere to their instructions, and they are not allowed to search a home or person without prior authorization from the public prosecutor. If authorized to search, they must follow the procedures specified by law for the public prosecutor in flagrant crimes. Any search conducted contrary to these procedures is null and void, but the nullity is limited to the search procedure and does not extend to other independent procedures.\r\nThey are prohibited from detaining the suspect in their custody without a decision from the public prosecutor and for a period not exceeding forty-eight hours. This period can only be extended for a similar duration with the approval of the public prosecutor.\r\nThe period of detention is counted towards the duration of their arrest.\r\nAfter the detention period ends, the public prosecutor may not take any action of any kind against the detained person, and the judicial police must transfer the detainee from the detention center where they were interrogated to another center not affiliated with the same unit, and this must be recorded in the report before it is concluded under penalty of nullity.\r\nThe suspect or accused enjoys the following rights before being heard in both flagrant and non-flagrant crimes, whether the investigation is conducted by the public prosecutor or the judicial police, and immediately upon being detained for investigation purposes:\r\n1 - To contact a lawyer of their choice and a family member, employer, or acquaintance.\r\n2 - To have a lawyer present during their interrogation or when their statements are being heard and to meet with them.\r\nThe investigator must inform the suspect or accused of these two rights before starting the interrogation or hearing and must record their stance on whether they wish to exercise these rights in the report and obtain their signature.\r\nThe lawyer is appointed by a declaration recorded in the report without the need for a formal power of attorney, provided that a formal power of attorney is presented at the first investigation or trial session.\r\n- The meeting between the suspect or accused and the lawyer must ensure the confidentiality of their conversation and should last no more than thirty minutes. The date and time of the start and end of the meeting are recorded in the report, and it is signed by both the lawyer and the suspect or accused.\r\nIf a delay is requested to appoint a lawyer, a period of twenty-four hours is granted for this purpose.\r\nIf the lawyer is not present, the suspect or accused is granted a two-hour period for their presence.\r\n- The investigation cannot commence in the absence of the lawyer except in the case of a flagrant crime and when there is an extreme necessity justifying the inability to wait, which must be detailed in the report.\r\nIf the lawyer does not arrive after the period has elapsed, the interrogation begins immediately.\r\nIf the lawyer arrives late, they join the investigation from the point reached after being informed of the content of their client's statements.\r\nIn all cases, they have the right, upon completion of hearing their client's statements, to ask the latter questions they deem appropriate and exclusively related to the subject of the investigation.\r\n- If the suspect or accused is unable to appoint a lawyer for financial reasons, the supervising judge appoints a lawyer for them through a delegate specifically appointed for this purpose by both the Beirut and Tripoli Bar Associations.\r\nThe procedures for appointing a lawyer must be recorded in the report.\r\n3 - Promptness in hearing their statements without delay.\r\n4 - Not being sworn in before their statements are heard.\r\n5 - Being informed of the capacity under which they are being interrogated, the suspicions against them, and the supporting evidence so they can understand and defend themselves.\r\nThe investigator is not required to provide the legal description of the facts.\r\n6 - To have a sworn translator if they do not understand Arabic, and for any foreigner from a country where Arabic is not the official language, a translator must be appointed as soon as possible. A non-sworn translator can be used provided they do not commence their duties until they swear to perform their work honestly and faithfully.\r\n7 - To submit a direct request, or through their lawyer or a family member, to the public prosecutor to be examined by a forensic doctor specializing in physical or mental health at the expense of the public treasury. The public prosecutor appoints a doctor immediately upon receiving the request. The doctor must conduct the physical or mental examination without the presence of any judicial officers and submit their report to the public prosecutor within twenty-four hours. The public prosecutor provides the applicant with a copy of this report upon receipt, and the detainee and any of the aforementioned individuals have the right to request a medical examination whenever they deem it necessary.\r\nThe public prosecutor cannot refuse to respond to a request for a medical examination unless there is an abuse of the right by the suspect or accused, and the refusal decision must be sufficiently justified.\r\nThe judicial police must inform the suspect, before hearing their statements and immediately upon detention, in both flagrant and non-flagrant crimes, of the aforementioned rights and record this procedure in the report, under penalty of its nullity and the nullity of subsequent procedures.\r\nIn all cases, the procedures for interrogation or hearing the statements of the accused must be audio-visually recorded from the moment their rights mentioned in this article are read to them, and the recordings must be attached to the preliminary investigation report under penalty of nullity of the report and subsequent procedures.\r\nSubject to the principle of confidentiality of the investigation, the right to access the content of the recording is reserved for the supervising judge, the interrogated person and their lawyer, and the plaintiff and their lawyer only.\r\nIn addition to disciplinary punishment, the investigator, whether from the public prosecutor's office or the judicial police, faces imprisonment for a period ranging from three months to a year and a fine ranging from two million Lebanese pounds to ten million Lebanese pounds if they fail to observe any of the fundamental guarantees mentioned in this article, without any prior authorization from any authority.",
                                    "position": 48,
                                    "article_number": "47-Amended"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 404,
                                    "body": "If the judicial officer violates the procedures related to the detention of the defendant or the suspect, they are subject to prosecution for the crime of unlawful detention as stipulated and punished under Article 367 of the Penal Code, in addition to disciplinary punishment, whether the crime is flagrant or not.",
                                    "position": 49,
                                    "article_number": "48"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 405,
                                    "body": "The public prosecutor may conduct the preliminary investigation personally.\r\nThe interrogated person enjoys the rights stipulated in Article 47 of this law, and the public prosecutor or the assistant prosecutor must inform them of all these rights and record their position regarding benefiting from them or not, and obtain their signature on it, under penalty of nullity of the interrogation and subsequent procedures.\r\nExcept for the interrogation of the suspect or the accused, if the prosecutor does not conduct the investigation personally, they review the preliminary investigations conducted by the judicial officer. If they find that the crime is of a felony type or a misdemeanor that requires further investigation, they file it before the investigating judge.\r\nIf the investigation into the misdemeanor is sufficient, they file it before the competent single judge.",
                                    "position": 50,
                                    "article_number": "49-Amended"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 406,
                                    "body": "The public prosecutor may decide to dismiss the preliminary investigation papers if it appears to them that the act does not constitute a crime, or that the evidence of the crime is insufficient, or that the public lawsuit has lapsed for one of the reasons stipulated in Article 10 of this law.\r\nThe public prosecutor who has filed a case is not entitled to conduct the investigation or adjudicate it.",
                                    "position": 51,
                                    "article_number": "50"
                                }
                            ],
                            "category": "Chapter",
                            "children": [],
                            "position": 1
                        }
                    ],
                    "position": 1
                }
            ],
            "position": 6
        },
        {
            "id": 299,
            "name": "Investigating Judges and Their Functions",
            "number": "Third",
            "articles": [],
            "category": "Section",
            "children": [
                {
                    "id": 300,
                    "name": "Organization of Investigation Departments",
                    "number": "First",
                    "articles": [
                        {
                            "id": 411,
                            "body": "In the center and jurisdiction of each Court of Appeal, there is an Investigation Chamber composed of a Chief Investigating Judge and Investigating Judges.\r\nThe Investigation Chamber is headed by the Chief Investigating Judge.\r\nThe request document in which the Public Prosecution claims crimes is referred to the Chief Investigating Judge. Direct lawsuits submitted by victims of crimes, accompanied by their personal claims, are also presented to him.\r\nThe Chief Investigating Judge personally conducts investigations in important cases and distributes other cases to the Investigating Judges in his chamber.\r\nHe supervises the proper functioning of work in his chamber.\r\nThe Chief Investigating Judge assigns one or more Investigating Judges to environmental crime cases, in addition to the tasks entrusted to him.",
                            "position": 52,
                            "article_number": "51-Amended"
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 412,
                            "body": "The Investigating Judge to whom the case is referred may not refuse to investigate it.\r\nHowever, he has the right to propose his recusal from considering it. Each party to the dispute has the right to request his disqualification.\r\nThe rules provided in this regard in the Code of Civil Procedure apply to both the request for recusal and disqualification.\r\nIf an impediment prevents the Investigating Judge from performing his duties, the Chief Judge of the Court of Appeal appoints a judge to carry them out.\r\nThe Investigating Judge who conducts the investigation in a case may not adjudicate it or participate in its judgment.",
                            "position": 53,
                            "article_number": "52"
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 413,
                            "body": "The investigation remains confidential unless the case is referred to the trial court, except for matters related to the indictment decision.\r\nAnyone who discloses the confidentiality of the investigation is subject to prosecution before the single judge within whose jurisdiction the complained act occurred and is punished with imprisonment from one month to one year and a fine from one hundred thousand to one million Lebanese pounds or with one of these penalties.",
                            "position": 54,
                            "article_number": "53"
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 414,
                            "body": "The Indictment Chamber is the appellate authority for the decisions of the Investigating Judge.\r\nIt alone holds the authority to indict in felony cases and exercises the right to intervene in the cases specified by law.",
                            "position": 55,
                            "article_number": "54"
                        }
                    ],
                    "category": "Title",
                    "children": [],
                    "position": 1
                },
                {
                    "id": 301,
                    "name": "Functions of the Investigating Judge in Flagrant Crimes",
                    "number": "Second",
                    "articles": [
                        {
                            "id": 417,
                            "body": "If a flagrant felony occurs, the investigating judge must move to the place of occurrence and begin the investigation without waiting for the public prosecutor. If the public prosecutor is present, they do not have the right to participate in the investigation or conduct a parallel investigation in the same case.\r\nHowever, they have the right to submit any requests they deem necessary.\r\nIf the public prosecutor has arrived at the crime scene first and started the investigation, they must stop and adhere to the provisions of Article 36 of this law.\r\nThe investigating judge must be accompanied by the clerk of their office when moving to the crime scene.\r\nIf they enlist the help of a clerk from the judicial police, the clerk must be sworn in to perform their duties faithfully and maintain the confidentiality of the investigation.",
                            "position": 56,
                            "article_number": "55"
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 418,
                            "body": "In the case of a flagrant felony, the investigating judge exercises all the powers enjoyed by the public prosecutor.\r\nThey perform all the tasks and procedures assigned to them and stipulated in Articles 31, 32, 33, 34, and 35 of this law.",
                            "position": 57,
                            "article_number": "56"
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 419,
                            "body": "After completing the procedures required by the investigation of the flagrant felony, the investigating judge submits the documents to the public prosecutor, who prosecutes the suspects and presents their requests.\r\nAfter the public prosecution, the investigating judge performs their duties according to the usual procedures. The public prosecutor has the right to review the investigation file at any time and submit their requests in writing.\r\nThe investigating judge considers these requests and decides whether to accept or reject them. If they are rejected, the public prosecutor must be informed, and they have the right to appeal any decision contrary to their request before the indictment chamber.\r\nThe investigating judge is bound by the decision of the indictment chamber resulting from the appeal.",
                            "position": 58,
                            "article_number": "57"
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 420,
                            "body": "If a flagrant misdemeanor occurs with a penalty of at least one year of imprisonment, the public prosecutor may request the investigating judge to move to the place of occurrence to conduct a local investigation.\r\nThe investigating judge must follow the procedures used in the investigation of a flagrant felony.",
                            "position": 59,
                            "article_number": "58"
                        }
                    ],
                    "category": "Title",
                    "children": [],
                    "position": 1
                },
                {
                    "id": 302,
                    "name": "Functions of the Investigating Judge in Non-Flagrant Crimes",
                    "number": "Third",
                    "articles": [],
                    "category": "Title",
                    "children": [
                        {
                            "id": 303,
                            "name": "General Provisions",
                            "number": "One",
                            "articles": [
                                {
                                    "id": 426,
                                    "body": "The investigating judge is not entitled to commence an investigation, outside the case of a flagrant crime, unless he has jurisdiction over the public lawsuit based on a public prosecution claim or a direct complaint in which the injured plaintiff assumes the status of a personal claimant or based on a decision to appoint the reference or a decision to transfer the lawsuit.",
                                    "position": 60,
                                    "article_number": "59"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 427,
                                    "body": "The investigating judge assumes jurisdiction over the public lawsuit objectively. He may interrogate as an accused any person suspected of committing the crime, whether as a perpetrator, accomplice, accessory, or instigator, without relying on a public prosecution claim.\r\nIf, during the investigation, criminal acts unrelated to the alleged act are discovered, the file is referred to the public prosecutor to claim these acts.\r\nHowever, if the discovered acts are related to the alleged act, no prior claim is required for investigation.",
                                    "position": 61,
                                    "article_number": "60"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 428,
                                    "body": "The investigating judge is obliged to follow lawful means during all investigative procedures that lead to uncovering the truth. He must document in writing everything he conducts.\r\nIf the investigation requires a physical inspection of the crime scene, the investigating judge proceeds to it without delay and conducts the inspection according to the procedures.",
                                    "position": 62,
                                    "article_number": "61"
                                }
                            ],
                            "category": "Chapter",
                            "children": [],
                            "position": 1
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 304,
                            "name": "Prosecution by the Public Prosecutor's Office before the Investigating Judge",
                            "number": "Second",
                            "articles": [
                                {
                                    "id": 442,
                                    "body": "The public prosecutor must specify in his claim before the first investigating judge the description of the crime and the identity of each of the participants in its commission, and must designate the place and time of the criminal act and specify his requests.\r\nIf he does not succeed in identifying all the participants in the crime, he shall claim against those he knows, otherwise he shall claim against an unknown person. His claim initiates the public right lawsuit whether he undertakes it himself or one of the public attorneys does so.\r\nThe public prosecutor must accompany his claim with the papers, reports, and documents that support it.",
                                    "position": 63,
                                    "article_number": "62"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 443,
                                    "body": "The investigating judge cannot refuse to proceed with the public lawsuit initiated by the public prosecutor's claim unless it is proven to him that the alleged act does not constitute a criminal offense or that the public lawsuit has lapsed for a reason of its lapse.\r\nHe shall not make his decision except after consulting the opinion of the public prosecutor.\r\nHe may decide to stop proceeding with the public lawsuit by a decision he makes after consulting the opinion of the public prosecutor, if he finds that another investigating judge has previously taken charge of the same investigation or an investigation in a related crime.\r\nThe public prosecutor may request the investigating judge to withdraw from the lawsuit if the conditions for prior claim are met or if there is a connection between it and another lawsuit under investigation, so it is joined to this lawsuit.",
                                    "position": 64,
                                    "article_number": "63"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 444,
                                    "body": "The investigating judge cannot decide to annul the claim of the appellate public prosecution if he finds a defect in it that would make his handling of the lawsuit incorrect.\r\nHowever, he may decide to refrain from investigating due to this defect.\r\nThe public prosecutor, if he does not correct the defect, must appeal the decision of the investigating judge before the indictment body.",
                                    "position": 65,
                                    "article_number": "64"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 445,
                                    "body": "The investigating judge, after consulting the opinion of the public prosecution, may decide his lack of jurisdiction to consider the case if it is proven that it falls outside his territorial or subject-matter jurisdiction or due to the status of the defendant.\r\nHis decision in this regard is subject to appeal before the indictment body.",
                                    "position": 66,
                                    "article_number": "65"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 446,
                                    "body": "The public prosecutor may later claim the acts that were omitted in his original claim and against those he omitted in this claim or in his subsequent claim.\r\nThe investigating judge must interrogate these individuals as defendants and consider this status in all investigation procedures.",
                                    "position": 67,
                                    "article_number": "66"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 447,
                                    "body": "The victim of the crime may submit a personal claim to the investigating judge attached to the public lawsuit initiated by the public prosecution's claim. He must choose a place of residence in the city or town where the investigating judge's center is located unless he has a real residence in either. If he does not, he cannot object to not being notified of the papers that must be legally notified to him.\r\nHe may be exempted wholly or partially from the costs of the lawsuit, even if it is decided to prevent the trial of the defendant, if it is found that he did not misuse his right to claim.\r\nIf he is a foreigner, he is required to provide a guarantee, the amount and nature of which the investigating judge determines. He may be exempted from the guarantee if there is justification for this exemption in his claim.",
                                    "position": 68,
                                    "article_number": "67"
                                }
                            ],
                            "category": "Chapter",
                            "children": [],
                            "position": 1
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 305,
                            "name": "Direct Claim by the Victim of the Crime Before the Investigating Judge",
                            "number": "Third",
                            "articles": [
                                {
                                    "id": 453,
                                    "body": "The first investigating judge personally undertakes the investigation into the direct complaint and may refer it to one of the investigating judges in his jurisdiction.\r\nThe judge handling the direct complaint initiates the investigation after consulting the opinion of the appellate public prosecution. However, he is not bound by its opinion if it includes a refusal to proceed with the public case previously initiated by personal prosecution in accordance with the provisions of the fourth paragraph of Article 68 of this law.\r\nHe must deliver a copy of the complaint and its attachments to the defendant at least twenty-four hours before his interrogation.",
                                    "position": 69,
                                    "article_number": "69"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 454,
                                    "body": "The public prosecutor may dispute the status of the personal plaintiff before proceeding with the investigation. The defendant or his agent may raise this objection before the interrogation.\r\nThe investigating judge, after notifying the personal plaintiff of this objection and granting him 24 hours to respond, must decide on it after consulting the opinion of the appellate public prosecution.",
                                    "position": 70,
                                    "article_number": "70"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 455,
                                    "body": "The public prosecutor, if he finds the complaint unclear, may request the investigating judge to initiate the investigation before taking a position on it. In this case, the investigating judge interrogates the persons named in the complaint as defendants and listens to the witnesses. Then he refers the file to the public prosecutor to take a position on the prosecution.\r\nThe investigating judge, if evidence is found against those he listened to as witnesses indicating their involvement in the crime, may interrogate them as defendants provided he adheres to the provisions of Article 61 of this law.",
                                    "position": 71,
                                    "article_number": "71"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 456,
                                    "body": "If the investigating judge decides to dismiss the trial against the person named by the complainant, the defendant may request, before the single criminal judge, compensation for damages against the personal plaintiff who exceeded his right to litigate. However, he must file his claim, under penalty of inadmissibility, within three months from the date of notification of the decision to dismiss his trial.",
                                    "position": 72,
                                    "article_number": "72"
                                }
                            ],
                            "category": "Chapter",
                            "children": [],
                            "position": 1
                        }
                    ],
                    "position": 1
                }
            ],
            "position": 7
        },
        {
            "id": 306,
            "name": "Investigation Procedures",
            "number": "Fourth",
            "articles": [],
            "category": "Title",
            "children": [
                {
                    "id": 307,
                    "name": "Formal Defenses",
                    "number": "First",
                    "articles": [
                        {
                            "id": 457,
                            "body": "The defendant or their attorney, without the presence of the defendant, and the public prosecutor have the right to present, once before the interrogation of the defendant, one or more of the following defenses:\r\n1 - Defense of lack of jurisdiction.\r\n2 - Defense of the dismissal of the public lawsuit for one of the legally specified reasons for dismissal.\r\n3 - Defense of inadmissibility of the lawsuit for a reason that prevents it from being heard or proceeded with before examining its subject matter.\r\n4 - Defense that the alleged act does not constitute a punishable offense under the law.\r\n5 - Defense of prior prosecution or connection.\r\n6 - Defense of res judicata.\r\n7 - Defense of nullity of one or more of the investigation procedures.\r\nThe investigating judge, after hearing the personal plaintiff and consulting the opinion of the public prosecutor, must decide on the defense within a week from the date of its submission. Each party in the lawsuit has the right to appeal the decision.",
                            "position": 1,
                            "article_number": "73"
                        }
                    ],
                    "category": "Chapter",
                    "children": [],
                    "position": 1
                },
                {
                    "id": 308,
                    "name": "Interrogation of the Defendant",
                    "number": "Second",
                    "articles": [
                        {
                            "id": 458,
                            "body": "The investigating judge must verify the identity of the defendant by recording his name, surname, age, place of birth, parents' names, place of residence, social and family status, and criminal record.\r\nHe may seek the assistance of specialists in psychiatry as well as in physical medicine to confirm the identity of the defendant.\r\nIf the defendant or his agent requests a psychological or physical examination, the investigating judge cannot refuse the request except by a reasoned decision.",
                            "position": 73,
                            "article_number": "74"
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 459,
                            "body": "The investigating judge interrogates the defendant in his office unless it is impossible for the latter to attend due to illness, disability, or another acceptable excuse.\r\nUpon verifying the impediment, the investigating judge, accompanied by his clerk, moves to the location where he can interrogate the defendant according to the procedures outlined later.",
                            "position": 74,
                            "article_number": "75"
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 460,
                            "body": "When the defendant appears before him for the first time, the investigating judge must inform him of the crime attributed to him, summarize its facts, and present the evidence available or the suspicions against him so that he can refute them and defend himself.\r\nThe investigating judge is not required to provide the legal description of the facts.\r\nThe investigating judge must inform him of his rights, especially his right to have one lawyer present during the interrogation.\r\nIf the investigating judge fails to inform the defendant of the crime attributed to him, as previously stated, or to inform him of his right to have a lawyer, this leads to the nullity of the interrogation as evidence.\r\n\r\n• Article 77\r\nThe investigating judge must respect the principle of the defendant's free will during interrogation and ensure that he gives his statement free from any external influence, whether moral or material.\r\nIf the defendant refuses to answer and remains silent, the investigating judge cannot compel him to speak.\r\nIf the defendant pretends to have a physical, psychological, or mental illness during interrogation, medical expertise can be sought to determine his true condition.",
                            "position": 75,
                            "article_number": "76"
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 461,
                            "body": "If the defendant refuses to have a lawyer, the investigating judge is not obliged to appoint one for him. This must be recorded in the minutes under penalty of nullity of the interrogation and subsequent procedures.\r\nHe interrogates him without a lawyer and continues the investigation procedures.\r\nIf he chooses a lawyer to defend him, the investigating judge cannot interrogate him or continue the investigation procedures except after the lawyer's presence and his review of all investigation works except for witness statements, under penalty of nullity of the interrogation and subsequent procedures.\r\nIf the defendant is unable to appoint a lawyer, the investigating judge appoints one for him or entrusts the appointment to the Bar Association President. The defendant, at any time during the investigation, can inform the investigating judge of the name of the lawyer he appointed to defend him.\r\nIf he chooses several lawyers for this purpose, he must inform the investigating judge of the name of the lawyer to whom the summons will be addressed.\r\nThe lawyer is summoned by a memorandum sent to him at least one day before the interrogation. The clerk of the investigating judge must record this procedure in the minutes, mentioning the date of sending the memorandum.\r\nIf the lawyer does not receive the summons memorandum before the session date, his attendance at the interrogation without objecting to the notification procedure prevents the nullity of the interrogation.\r\nIf the appointed lawyer does not attend despite being duly notified of the session date without a legitimate excuse, the investigating judge may proceed with the interrogation.",
                            "position": 76,
                            "article_number": "78"
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 462,
                            "body": "Before each subsequent interrogation after the first, the investigating judge must ask the defendant whether his consent to be interrogated without a lawyer continues and record this in the minutes under penalty of nullity of this interrogation and subsequent procedures.\r\nThe defendant has the right to communicate freely with his lawyer throughout the investigation period. Communications between them are confidential.\r\nNo evidence resulting from a breach of the confidentiality principle is admissible.",
                            "position": 77,
                            "article_number": "79"
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 463,
                            "body": "As an exception to the provisions of Articles 78 and 79 of this law, the investigating judge may, by a reasoned decision, begin interrogating the defendant directly if there is evidence or a trace that is feared to disappear.\r\nHe may interrogate the defendant without a lawyer in the case of a flagrante delicto crime and a crime treated as such.",
                            "position": 78,
                            "article_number": "80"
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 464,
                            "body": "If the defendant's lawyer attends the interrogation, he may not ask any questions to his client or the opponent except through the investigating judge. He may make some observations and object to what he sees as contrary to the principles of investigation in the questions posed by the investigating judge.\r\nIf the investigating judge does not allow the lawyer to speak, ask questions, make observations, or objections, he must record this in the interrogation minutes.\r\nThe public prosecutor or one of his assistants may attend the defendant's interrogation and may ask questions and make observations through the investigating judge.\r\nIf the defendant does not understand Arabic, the investigating judge appoints a translator who does not begin his task until he takes an oath to perform his work honestly and faithfully.\r\nIf the defendant is mute, deaf, or unable to speak, the investigating judge seeks the assistance of someone who can communicate with him through sign language or otherwise, who must take an oath to perform his work honestly and faithfully.\r\nIf the deaf or mute person knows how to write, the interrogation is conducted by writing the questions and recording his answers.\r\nThe paper on which he answers the questions must be attached to the interrogation minutes.\r\nThe civil plaintiff, the financially responsible party, and the guarantor may attend the defendant's interrogation or appoint a lawyer for this purpose. Each of them may ask questions and make observations through the investigating judge.\r\nIf there are multiple defendants, none of them or their agents may attend the interrogation of another unless a confrontation is conducted between them.",
                            "position": 79,
                            "article_number": "81"
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 465,
                            "body": "If the investigating judge has interrogated the defendant about a criminal act, considering it a misdemeanor, and then it becomes apparent that the applicable description is a felony, he must re-interrogate him and inform him of his right to have a lawyer if he has not appointed one to assist him in the case.\r\nSubject to the penultimate paragraph of Article 81 of this law, the defendant, the civil plaintiff, the financially responsible party, the guarantor, or their agents may attend the investigation works except for hearing witnesses. Each must be notified of the summons memorandum at least twenty-four hours before the investigative work it concerns, otherwise, the work conducted in their absence is void.\r\nIf those summoned attend without objecting to the notification method or the failure to observe the twenty-four-hour period, the investigative work concerning them is considered valid.\r\nEach of the financially responsible party and the guarantor must choose a domicile within the town where the investigating judge's office is located unless he has a real domicile in either to be notified of the papers that must be legally notified to him.\r\nEach of the above must inform the investigating judge in writing of any change that may occur to his real or chosen domicile. If he does not, notification at the address in the case file is considered valid.",
                            "position": 80,
                            "article_number": "82"
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 466,
                            "body": "The investigating judge may decide to prohibit contact with the detained defendant for a period not exceeding five days. The prohibition does not include his lawyer.\r\nIf the arrest warrant is executed in absentia on the detained defendant, the investigating judge must, upon receiving the arrest notification, bring the detained defendant and interrogate him about the acts attributed to him, provided that the previously stated procedures for interrogation are observed.",
                            "position": 81,
                            "article_number": "83"
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 467,
                            "body": "If the defendant residing outside the jurisdiction of the investigating judge presents a legitimate excuse preventing him from attending the judge's office, the investigating judge may delegate the interrogation to the investigating judge of the defendant's place of residence or the single judge of the defendant's place of residence.\r\nAn officer of the judicial police cannot be delegated for this purpose.\r\nThe investigating judge cannot conclude the investigation unless the defendant is interrogated, unless it is impossible due to his decision, or if he determines that the evidence gathered in the case is sufficient to prevent prosecution regardless of the interrogation.",
                            "position": 82,
                            "article_number": "84"
                        }
                    ],
                    "category": "Chapter",
                    "children": [],
                    "position": 1
                },
                {
                    "id": 309,
                    "name": "On Hearing Witnesses",
                    "number": "Third",
                    "articles": [
                        {
                            "id": 523,
                            "body": "If the case requires hearing the testimony of the President of the Republic, the Speaker of the Parliament, or the Prime Minister, the investigating judge, along with his clerk, shall move to their location to hear their testimony.",
                            "position": 83,
                            "article_number": "85"
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 524,
                            "body": "The investigating judge summons the individuals named in the complaint, report, or investigations, and anyone he deems has information beneficial to the investigation.\r\n- The judge is not required to summon a witness named by the personal plaintiff or the defendant if he deems it unnecessary to hear them. However, if he refuses to hear a witness named by the public prosecution, he must issue a reasoned decision.\r\n- The summons paper must be delivered to the witness at least twenty-four hours before the scheduled session for hearing.\r\n- Members of the diplomatic and consular corps are summoned through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants.\r\n- Military personnel are summoned through their respective commands.\r\n- If the witness resides abroad, the summons is sent by registered mail with acknowledgment of receipt.\r\n- If the witness is detained, they are brought under escort.",
                            "position": 84,
                            "article_number": "86"
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 525,
                            "body": "Before being heard, the witness presents the summons paper they received and declares this in the record. If they appear before receiving the summons paper, they cannot refuse to testify on the grounds of not being notified of the summons date.\r\nThe investigating judge, in the presence of his clerk, hears each witness separately.\r\nAfter asking the witness for their name, surname, parents' names, age, profession, place of residence or domicile, and whether they are related to either party or serve one of them, and the degree of kinship, the judge administers the following oath:\r\n \"I swear by Almighty God to testify the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth,\" and this is recorded in the record.\r\nThe witness gives their testimony orally and may use documents to support it.\r\nEach witness's testimony is recorded in a report that includes the questions asked and their answers.\r\nThe testimony is read to the witness, who confirms it and signs each page. If they refuse or are unable to sign, this is noted in the record.\r\nThe number of pages containing the witness's testimony is noted at the end of the record. Each page is signed by the investigating judge and his clerk, and the foundational record includes the names of the persons heard and the date of their hearing.\r\nIf the witness is shown any seized criminal materials or objects, this is recorded in the report.\r\nThe same procedures are followed when hearing the testimony of the personal plaintiff, the defendant, the financially responsible party, the guarantor, and the expert.\r\nOnly the party harmed by a violation of the aforementioned procedures may request the annulment of the record.",
                            "position": 85,
                            "article_number": "87"
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 526,
                            "body": "If the witness does not understand Arabic, the investigating judge appoints an interpreter who performs his duties after taking an oath to do so truthfully and faithfully, unless he is a sworn interpreter.",
                            "position": 86,
                            "article_number": "88"
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 527,
                            "body": "If the witness falsely asserts, denies the truth, or conceals some or all of what they know about the facts of the case they are questioned about, the investigating judge refers the record containing their testimony to the appellate public prosecution to prosecute them for perjury as stipulated in Article 408 of the Penal Code.",
                            "position": 87,
                            "article_number": "89"
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 528,
                            "body": "No erasures, insertions, or additions are allowed in the investigation record.\r\nIf it is necessary to delete or add a word, the investigating judge, the clerk, and the witness must approve and sign the deletion, insertion, and addition in the margin of the record.\r\nAny unapproved insertion, deletion, or addition is considered null and void and is subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Article 87 of this law.",
                            "position": 88,
                            "article_number": "90"
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 529,
                            "body": "The investigating judge hears minors under eighteen years of age for informational purposes.\r\nIf a minor over fifteen years of age has taken the legal oath, their testimony is not invalid, and they are not prosecuted for perjury.\r\nThe defendant's ascendants, descendants, siblings, in-laws of the sibling degree, and spouse, even after divorce, and informants who receive financial rewards for reporting are prohibited from testifying.\r\nThe investigating judge may hear the testimony of any of these individuals for informational purposes.",
                            "position": 89,
                            "article_number": "91"
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 530,
                            "body": "A witness is not exempt from giving their testimony unless they prove they are legally bound to maintain confidentiality.\r\nIf the investigating judge finds that the witness's claim of professional or banking secrecy is unfounded, he makes a reasoned decision to reject the claim after consulting the appellate public prosecution.\r\nThe witness may appeal the decision within twenty-four hours of being notified.\r\nAnyone with information that could illuminate the investigation must promptly testify before the investigating judge.\r\nIf they fail to do so, they are fined between one hundred thousand and two hundred thousand Lebanese pounds, collected in the same manner as public funds.\r\nIf this information could prove the defendant's innocence, the person who fails to provide it or present evidence is prosecuted under the amended Article 567 of the Penal Code.",
                            "position": 90,
                            "article_number": "92"
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 531,
                            "body": "The investigating judge determines the travel allowance for the witness, which is paid by the party requesting it.\r\nIf the case is filed in the name of the public right, it is paid from the treasury fund.",
                            "position": 91,
                            "article_number": "93"
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 532,
                            "body": "The investigating judge, if the witness resides outside his jurisdiction, may delegate the hearing of the testimony to the investigating judge or the single judge within whose jurisdiction the witness resides.\r\nThe delegated judge must specify to the appointed judge the facts the witness should be questioned about with sufficient precision and clarity.\r\nThe appointed judge must hear the witness's testimony according to the procedures after administering the oath and send the record containing the testimony in a sealed envelope to the delegating judge as soon as possible.",
                            "position": 92,
                            "article_number": "94"
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 533,
                            "body": "Anyone duly notified of the obligation to appear before the investigating judge to testify is required to do so.\r\nIf they fail to appear without a legitimate excuse, the investigating judge repeats the summons for a subsequent session after imposing a fine ranging from fifty thousand to one hundred thousand Lebanese pounds.\r\nIf they fail to appear again, an arrest warrant is issued against them.\r\nIf the witness claims illness and presents a medical report to justify their absence, the investigating judge may reject this excuse if it appears insincere or appoint another doctor or medical committee to examine the witness and determine if their health condition prevents them from attending.\r\nIf it is found that the report is false, a report is made, and it is referred to the public prosecution to prosecute the witness and the doctor who issued the report under Article 466 of the Penal Code.\r\nIf the excuse is not illness and the investigating judge finds it false, a report is made, and it is referred to the public prosecution to prosecute the witness under Article 407 of the Penal Code.",
                            "position": 93,
                            "article_number": "95"
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 534,
                            "body": "The investigating judge, if the witness is unable to attend his office due to illness, disability, or a compelling circumstance, may move to the witness's location to hear their testimony in the presence of his clerk.",
                            "position": 94,
                            "article_number": "96"
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 535,
                            "body": "The investigating judge, in the absence of his clerk or one of the clerks of the investigation department, the public prosecution, or the courts, may enlist one of the non-commissioned officers of the Internal Security Forces to record the witness's testimony after swearing him in to perform his duty honestly and faithfully.\r\nIf a clerk is not available to record the minutes, he may undertake this task himself.\r\nThe minutes prepared by him in this latter case shall not be invalid.",
                            "position": 95,
                            "article_number": "97"
                        }
                    ],
                    "category": "Chapter",
                    "children": [],
                    "position": 1
                },
                {
                    "id": 310,
                    "name": "On Transfer, Search, and Seizure of Evidence",
                    "number": "Fourth",
                    "articles": [
                        {
                            "id": 554,
                            "body": "The investigating judge may move with his clerk to conduct an on-site inspection of the crime scene or to search a house for criminal materials or items that illuminate the investigation. He must inform the public prosecutor of his movement.\r\nIf accompanied, he conducts the inspection and search in his presence; otherwise, he does so alone. The inspection or search is conducted in the presence of the personal plaintiff and the defendant.\r\nIf either does not attend or is unable to attend, it is conducted in the presence of their agent or two witnesses from their family members or two witnesses chosen by the investigating judge.\r\nThe investigating judge prepares a detailed report of the inspection or search procedures, signed by him, his clerk, and all present.\r\nIf criminal materials or items useful to the investigation are seized during the search, he must describe each one and specify its nature with sufficient accuracy.\r\nHe must preserve the seized materials and items according to their nature, seal them with the investigation department's stamp, and attach a paper listing the seized contents, signed by the investigating judge, his clerk, and those present.\r\nIf the seizures include books, papers, and account statements, they are placed in envelopes sealed with the department's stamp and kept in the investigation department after attaching the statement of their contents.\r\nIf the seizures include bullion or currency or financial papers, they are placed in envelopes sealed with the department's stamp and kept in the Justice Palace safe after attaching the statement of their contents.\r\nIf secret documents are seized during the search, they are numbered and only the investigating judge and their owner may view them.\r\nThey are kept in envelopes sealed with the department's stamp, with a statement attached indicating they are secret and referring to their number and count.",
                            "position": 96,
                            "article_number": "98"
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 555,
                            "body": "If among the seized items there is something that cannot be moved to the investigation department or the custody warehouse in the Justice Palace due to its size or danger, the investigating judge hands it over to someone deemed suitable for safekeeping, under a report signed by him, his clerk, the owner of the seized item, and the recipient.",
                            "position": 97,
                            "article_number": "99"
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 556,
                            "body": "Except for a flagrant crime, the investigating judge, when prosecuting a lawyer, is not entitled to search his office without informing the Bar Association President. He must not breach professional secrecy during the search.\r\nThe President or his delegate may attend the search operations.\r\nThe communications conducted by the suspected lawyer may not be intercepted except by judicial decision and after informing the Bar Association President.",
                            "position": 98,
                            "article_number": "100"
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 557,
                            "body": "If the investigating judge finds prohibited items during the search, the possession or acquisition of which constitutes a misdemeanor or felony, he seizes them, even if they are unrelated to the crime under investigation, and prepares a report signed by him, his clerk, and those present at the search, and sends them with the report to the public prosecution.",
                            "position": 99,
                            "article_number": "101"
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 558,
                            "body": "The seals on the seized and preserved items may only be broken in the presence of the investigating judge, his clerk, the defendant or his agent, and the person whose house was searched or in whose presence it was conducted. If any of these are absent, it is done in their absence, provided they have been notified of the timing of this procedure.\r\nThe investigating judge may review telegrams and letters and retain what he deems necessary to reveal the truth or what would harm the investigation if disclosed to others.\r\nHe is not entitled to disclose the content of any seized telegram or letter without the consent of the concerned party.\r\nThe investigating judge may not review the correspondence exchanged between the defendant and his lawyer.",
                            "position": 100,
                            "article_number": "102"
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 559,
                            "body": "If the investigating judge sees that retaining the seized items or some of them does not benefit the investigation, he returns them to the rightful owner if his right is free from any legal dispute.\r\nIf there is a serious dispute over the ownership or possession of the seized item that can be returned, the investigating judge postpones the return until after the dispute is resolved.\r\nIf the personal plaintiff or the defendant requests the return of a seized item, the investigating judge decides on the request after consulting the opposing party in the case and the opinion of the public prosecution.\r\nHis decision in this regard is subject to appeal within twenty-four hours from the date of notification to the aggrieved party among the parties to the dispute in the case.",
                            "position": 101,
                            "article_number": "103"
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 560,
                            "body": "If the investigating judge deems it necessary to search a house located outside his jurisdiction, he delegates this task to the investigating judge within whose jurisdiction the house is located or to the single judge in the same jurisdiction.\r\nHe specifies the task accurately and in detail.\r\nThe delegated judge must execute this task, follow the procedures for seizing criminal materials or items useful to the investigation, and prepare a report signed by him, his clerk, and the homeowner or two witnesses, and send it with the seized items to the delegating judge in an envelope sealed with his department's stamp and with a statement of the contents attached.",
                            "position": 102,
                            "article_number": "104"
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 561,
                            "body": "Any search conducted contrary to the procedures outlined above is null and void.\r\nConsequently, the investigation procedures based on it are also void.\r\nThe nullity does not prevent the use of information obtained that benefits the investigation as a result of the search if there is evidence supporting it. The procedure is not void if the aggrieved party consents to it.",
                            "position": 103,
                            "article_number": "105"
                        }
                    ],
                    "category": "Chapter",
                    "children": [],
                    "position": 1
                }
            ],
            "position": 8
        },
        {
            "id": 311,
            "name": "Decisions Issued by the Investigating Judge During the Investigation",
            "number": "Fifth",
            "articles": [],
            "category": "Title",
            "children": [
                {
                    "id": 312,
                    "name": "Summons, Arrest, and Detention Orders",
                    "number": "First",
                    "articles": [
                        {
                            "id": 572,
                            "body": "The investigating judge may issue a summons inviting the private plaintiff, the defendant, the witness, the person responsible for the money, or the guarantor to the session he specifies, indicating the day and hour.\r\nThe defendant must appear at the office of the investigating judge after being notified of his summons and must present himself before him.\r\nIf he does not appear without providing a legitimate excuse, or if the investigating judge fears his escape, he issues a warrant for his arrest, which includes a written order to the security forces to ensure his appearance within twenty-four hours from the scheduled session.\r\nThe public prosecution is responsible for executing the arrest warrant.",
                            "position": 104,
                            "article_number": "106"
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 573,
                            "body": " The investigating judge immediately interrogates the defendant summoned by a summons. As for the defendant brought by an arrest warrant, he is interrogated within twenty-four hours from the time the arrest warrant is executed against him.\r\n After the expiration of the twenty-four hours, the head of the guard, on his own initiative, brings the defendant to the public prosecutor, who requests the investigating judge to interrogate him. If he refuses, is absent, or a legitimate obstacle prevents his interrogation, the public prosecutor requests the first investigating judge to interrogate him or assigns one of the investigating judges to do so.\r\nIf his interrogation is not possible, the public prosecutor orders his immediate release.\r\nIf his detention continues for more than twenty-four hours without being brought to the public prosecutor, this detention is considered arbitrary, and the responsible employee is prosecuted for the crime of depriving personal freedom.\r\n After the investigating judge interrogates the defendant and consults the public prosecution, he may issue a detention order, provided that the crime attributed to him is punishable by imprisonment for more than a year, or if he has previously been sentenced to a criminal penalty or imprisonment for more than three months without suspension.\r\n The detention order must be justified, and the investigating judge must state the factual and material reasons he relied on to issue his decision, provided that preventive detention is the only means to preserve evidence or the material features of the crime, to prevent coercion of witnesses or victims, to prevent the defendant from contacting his accomplices in the crime, interveners, or instigators, or if the purpose of detention is to protect the defendant himself, to put an end to the effect of the crime, to prevent its recurrence, to prevent the defendant from fleeing, or to avoid any disruption to public order resulting from the crime.\r\n The summons, arrest warrant, and detention order must include the date of issuance, the identity of the defendant, a description of the crime attributed to him, the applicable legal article, the signature of the investigating judge who issued it, and the seal of his office. \r\nThe defendant is notified of both the arrest warrant and the detention order, even if he is detained for another crime, upon the execution of either against him, and a copy of the notification document is left with him. \r\nIf the procedures specified above for the arrest warrant and detention order are not followed, the clerk is fined up to two million Lebanese pounds by a decision of the court before which the violation is raised.  The defendant may appeal the decision ordering his detention within twenty-four hours from the date of notification.\r\n The appeal of the decision does not suspend its execution. \r\nIf the defendant is in hiding, the investigating judge may issue a justified decision to detain him in absentia.\r\n If the execution of the in absentia detention order against the defendant is not possible, he is notified by posting a copy on the door of his last residence in the presence of the local mayor or two neighbors, and a report is drawn up accordingly.",
                            "position": 105,
                            "article_number": "107"
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 574,
                            "body": "Except in the case of a person previously sentenced to a penalty of at least one year, the duration of detention in a misdemeanor may not exceed two months. It can be extended for a similar period as a maximum in cases of extreme necessity.\r\nExcept for felonies of murder, drugs, assault on state security, felonies of comprehensive danger, terrorism crimes, and the case of a detainee previously sentenced to a criminal penalty, the duration of detention in a felony may not exceed six months, and it can be renewed once with a justified decision.\r\nThe investigating judge may decide to prohibit the defendant from traveling for a period not exceeding two months in a misdemeanor and one year in a felony from the date of his release or discharge.",
                            "position": 106,
                            "article_number": "108-Amended"
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 575,
                            "body": "Anyone arrested pursuant to an in absentia detention order is brought without delay to the public prosecution at the center of the investigating judge who issued the order, which gives the employee who executed the order a receipt for receiving the detainee and sends him to the place of detention and informs the investigating judge of the matter. The investigating judge must decide to bring the detainee immediately and interrogate him according to the provisions of Articles 74 and following of this law.\r\nThe security forces tasked with executing the in absentia detention order must enter the house where there is evidence that the absent detainee has taken refuge.\r\nHowever, entry is only allowed between five in the morning and eight at night.\r\nThe procedures specified in this paragraph apply when executing the arrest warrant.",
                            "position": 107,
                            "article_number": "109"
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 576,
                            "body": "The investigating judge may decide, during the investigation proceedings, regardless of the type of crime, to withdraw the detention order with the approval of the public prosecutor. The defendant must take up residence in the city or town where the investigating judge's center is located unless he has a real residence in either to be notified of all transactions related to the investigation and the enforcement of the judgment.",
                            "position": 108,
                            "article_number": "110"
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 577,
                            "body": "The investigating judge, regardless of the type of crime, and after consulting the public prosecution, may substitute the detention of the defendant by placing him under judicial supervision and obliging him to one or more obligations deemed necessary for the enforcement of supervision.\r\nThese include:\r\nA - Commitment to reside in a city, town, or village and prohibition from leaving it and taking up residence there.\r\nB - Not frequenting certain places or locations.\r\nC - Depositing the passport with the investigation office and informing the General Directorate of General Security of this.\r\nD - Undertaking not to exceed the supervision area and proving presence periodically at the supervision center.\r\nE - Not practicing certain professions that the investigating judge prohibits him from practicing throughout the supervision period.\r\nF - Undergoing medical and laboratory tests periodically during a period specified by the investigating judge.\r\nG - Providing a guarantee bond, the amount of which is determined by the investigating judge.\r\nThe investigating judge may modify the supervision obligations imposed whenever he deems it appropriate.\r\nIf the defendant violates any of the supervision obligations imposed on him, the investigating judge may decide, after consulting the public prosecution, to issue a detention warrant against him and confiscate the bond in favor of the treasury.",
                            "position": 109,
                            "article_number": "111"
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 578,
                            "body": "The defendant placed under judicial supervision may request the lifting of the supervision.\r\nThe investigating judge must decide on his request, after consulting the public prosecution, within three days at most from the date of its registration at the investigation office.\r\nHis decision is subject to appeal before the indictment chamber according to the procedures followed in appealing the decisions of the investigating judge.",
                            "position": 110,
                            "article_number": "112"
                        }
                    ],
                    "category": "Chapter",
                    "children": [],
                    "position": 1
                },
                {
                    "id": 313,
                    "name": "Decisions on Release",
                    "number": "Two",
                    "articles": [
                        {
                            "id": 682,
                            "body": "If the crime is a misdemeanor and the maximum penalty does not exceed imprisonment for two years, and the defendant is Lebanese and resides in Lebanon, they shall be released by right after five days from the date of their detention, provided that they have not been previously convicted of a disgraceful crime or sentenced to imprisonment for at least one year.\r\nThe released defendant undertakes to attend all investigation procedures, trial proceedings, and execution of the judgment.",
                            "position": 111,
                            "article_number": "113"
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 683,
                            "body": "In all other crimes, and if the conditions for release by right are not met, the investigating judge, after consulting the public prosecution, may decide to release the detained defendant if they request it and undertake in their request to attend all investigation and trial procedures and execute the judgment, with or without bail.\r\n The bail includes:\r\nA - The defendant's attendance at investigation and trial procedures and execution of the judgment.\r\nB - Fines, fees, and judicial expenses.\r\nC - Expenses advanced by the personal plaintiff.\r\nD - Part of the personal compensations.\r\nThe investigating judge determines the amount and type of bail and the amount allocated to each of its sections and may adjust its amount or type if necessary.",
                            "position": 112,
                            "article_number": "114"
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 684,
                            "body": "The defendant or their agent submits a request for release to the investigating judge before issuing the indictment decision.\r\nA copy of the request is delivered to the personal plaintiff at their chosen residence to provide their observations within twenty-four hours from the date of notification.\r\nThe request is referred, after the expiration of twenty-four hours from notifying the personal plaintiff, to the public prosecutor to express their opinion on it. The investigating judge makes their decision according to the opinion of the public prosecution or contrary to it immediately upon the file's return to them.",
                            "position": 113,
                            "article_number": "115"
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 685,
                            "body": "The personal plaintiff may appeal the release decision before the indictment panel within twenty-four hours from the date of its notification. The defendant may appeal the decision rejecting their release request within twenty-four hours from the date of its notification.\r\n The public prosecution may appeal the decision within twenty-four hours from the date of its issuance.\r\n The appeal of the release decision suspends its execution.\r\n The appeal is submitted through the investigating judge.\r\nThe released defendant is required to choose a residence in the city or town where the investigating judge's office is located unless they have an actual residence in either.",
                            "position": 114,
                            "article_number": "116"
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 686,
                            "body": " The bail can be monetary, state bonds, banking, commercial, or real estate. \r\nIf it is monetary or state bonds, it is deposited in the Justice Palace fund against a receipt.\r\n If it is banking, it is done by presenting a guarantee bond issued by the guarantor bank, which is duly deposited in the case file. The foundational record notes the date of its receipt by day and hour, the name of the guarantor bank, the amount fixed in the guarantee bond, and the bond number.\r\n If the bail is commercial, it is done by presenting a guarantee bond issued by the commercial authority, whether a person, institution, or company.\r\nThe foundational record with the investigating judge registers the guarantor's name, address, and the amount fixed in the bond. A note of the guarantee bond is also placed in the commercial register in the guarantor's file. \r\nIf the bail is real estate, it is accompanied by a sworn expert report specifying the property's number, location, area, and detailed valuation of its price.\r\nA note of this bail is placed on the property's real estate record.\r\nThe original guarantee bond and report are kept in the Justice Palace fund. They are noted in the foundational record.\r\n Both the personal plaintiff and the defendant, within the period specified in Article 116 of this law, may appeal the part related to the bail amount from the release decision.",
                            "position": 115,
                            "article_number": "117"
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 687,
                            "body": "If the released defendant attends the investigation and trial procedures and appears for the execution of the judgment, the first part of the bail is returned to them.\r\nIf they fail to attend any investigation or trial procedure or do not comply with the execution of the judgment, the first part of the bail is confiscated in favor of the treasury.\r\n If a decision is issued to dismiss the trial against the defendant, the entire bail is returned to them.\r\n If a decision is issued to drop the public right lawsuit against them due to death, the first part of the bail is returned to their heirs.\r\n If a decision is issued to drop the crime attributed to them by general or special amnesty, the first part of the bail is returned to them. \r\nIf a dispute arises regarding the application of this article, it is resolved, based on the request of the concerned party, by the authority handling the case or who judged it in the deliberation chamber.",
                            "position": 116,
                            "article_number": "118"
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 688,
                            "body": "The public prosecution is responsible for executing sections (A and B) of the bail, and sections (C and D) are executed by the execution department after the judgment becomes final.",
                            "position": 117,
                            "article_number": "119"
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 689,
                            "body": "If important reasons arise after the defendant's release that necessitate their re-arrest, the investigating judge may issue a decision to detain them again after consulting the public prosecution. If the release decision was issued by the indictment panel when overturning the investigating judge's decision to reject the request, the investigating judge must refer the case file to the indictment panel to take a position on their decision to detain the defendant again. However, this does not suspend the execution of their decision. If the indictment panel decides to overturn their decision, the defendant is released.",
                            "position": 118,
                            "article_number": "120"
                        }
                    ],
                    "category": "Chapter",
                    "children": [],
                    "position": 1
                }
            ],
            "position": 9
        },
        {
            "id": 314,
            "name": "Decisions of the Investigating Judge After the Conclusion of the Investigation",
            "number": "Sixth",
            "articles": [
                {
                    "id": 702,
                    "body": "After the investigating judge completes the investigation, he refers the file to the public prosecution to provide its final opinion.\r\nThe public prosecution must provide its opinion within a maximum of one week.\r\nIf the public prosecution requests further investigation, it must specify the deficiencies and investigative actions it deems necessary. The investigating judge may execute or reject its request.\r\nIf he rejects it, he must justify the reasons for the rejection.\r\nThe public prosecution may appeal the rejection decision.\r\nIf the indictment chamber overturns it, it may address the subject of the request or refer the case file to the first investigating judge to continue the investigation or assign it to another investigating judge.\r\nHowever, if it upholds it, it returns the file to him to issue the indictment decision after the public prosecution provides its final opinion.",
                    "position": 119,
                    "article_number": "121"
                },
                {
                    "id": 703,
                    "body": "If the investigating judge decides to dismiss the case against the defendant, he bases his decision either on a legal reason or a factual reason.\r\nThe reason is legal if the alleged act does not correspond to any legal criminal description, or if a new law was issued after the allegation that strips it of any criminal description, or if the criminal nature of this act has been removed for any legal justification reasons, or if the public case regarding the alleged act has been dropped for any legally specified reasons.\r\nThe reason is factual if the investigation did not prove that the alleged crime actually occurred, or if there is no evidence of a causal link between the alleged crime and the defendant, or if the public case was initiated against an unknown person whom the investigation did not manage to uncover or identify. In this last case, the investigating judge decides to issue a permanent search warrant to identify the perpetrator or reveal his identity.\r\nIf the investigating judge decides to dismiss the case against the defendant, he decides to release him immediately if he is detained. The appeal of this decision does not suspend its execution.",
                    "position": 120,
                    "article_number": "122"
                },
                {
                    "id": 704,
                    "body": "If the investigating judge decides that the alleged act is a misdemeanor or an offense that does not require imprisonment, he releases the defendant immediately if detained and refers the case file to the single judge through the public prosecution.",
                    "position": 121,
                    "article_number": "123"
                },
                {
                    "id": 705,
                    "body": "In a case associated with an indictment decision for a misdemeanor or offense, the public prosecutor must send the case file to the competent single judge within three days of receiving it, accompanied by an inventory list prepared by the investigation department.",
                    "position": 122,
                    "article_number": "124"
                },
                {
                    "id": 706,
                    "body": "If the investigating judge considers that the act he investigated is a felony, he issues a decision outlining the facts of the case, the available evidence, and the legal description applicable to it.\r\nHe refers the file to the public prosecution to submit it to the indictment chamber as the authority responsible for prosecution.\r\nIf the investigating judge decides that the alleged criminal description does not apply to the available facts in the case but rather a misdemeanor description does, the public prosecutor may appeal his decision.\r\nThe personal plaintiff does not have the right to appeal this decision.",
                    "position": 123,
                    "article_number": "125"
                },
                {
                    "id": 707,
                    "body": "The decision of the investigating judge, whether referring to the single judge or considering the act a felony, must include the name of the defendant, his surname, age, place of birth, the names of his parents, nationality, registration number, place of residence, profession, date of arrest, and release, along with a clear statement of the facts, evidence, and legal description.",
                    "position": 124,
                    "article_number": "126"
                },
                {
                    "id": 708,
                    "body": "If new evidence emerges after the decision to dismiss the case against the defendant, the investigation is reopened if the decision was based on a factual reason.\r\nNew evidence includes witness statements, documents, and reports not previously available to the investigating judge that could affect the outcome reached.\r\nThe new evidence is presented to the public prosecutor, who assesses whether it is useful and sufficient to request a renewed investigation.\r\nIf he finds it meets the purpose, he requests the investigating judge to conduct the investigation again.\r\nThe investigating judge must investigate the new evidence and issue any necessary warrants.\r\nHe interrogates the defendant without a subsequent allegation from the public prosecution and follows the established investigation procedures.\r\nIf the investigating judge, after resuming the investigation, decides to reverse the decision to dismiss the case, he decides, after consulting the public prosecution, to indict the defendant or consider his act a felony.\r\nHowever, if the new investigation does not lead to a modification of the initial decision to dismiss the case, he issues a decision to maintain it.\r\nIf the decision to dismiss the case was issued by the indictment chamber, it undertakes, upon the public prosecutor's request, to renew the investigation conducted by its president or a designated advisor according to the procedures followed before the investigating judge.",
                    "position": 125,
                    "article_number": "127"
                }
            ],
            "category": "Title",
            "children": [],
            "position": 10
        },
        {
            "id": 315,
            "name": "The Indictment Authority",
            "number": "Fourth",
            "articles": [
                {
                    "id": 721,
                    "body": "A civil chamber at the Court of Appeal assumes the functions of the Indictment Chamber.\nIt is:\n1 - The authority of indictment in felonies.\n2 - The appellate authority for decisions of the investigating judge and for decisions within its jurisdiction under special laws.\n3 - The right to intervene.\n4 - Deciding on requests for rehabilitation.",
                    "position": 1,
                    "article_number": "128"
                }
            ],
            "category": "Section",
            "children": [
                {
                    "id": 316,
                    "name": "The Indictment Authority as a Prosecuting Authority",
                    "number": "One",
                    "articles": [
                        {
                            "id": 730,
                            "body": "If the investigating judge considers in his final decision that the act alleged is of the nature of a felony, he shall refer the case file to the public prosecutor to submit it to the indictment chamber, and the public prosecutor shall, within five days, prepare a report clarifying its demands.\r\nBoth the civil claimant and the accused have the right, within the same period, to submit a memorandum in which they present the facts of the case, the evidence, the legal description, and their conclusions.",
                            "position": 126,
                            "article_number": "129"
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 731,
                            "body": "After the public prosecutor submits the case file, accompanied by his report, to the indictment chamber, it shall objectively take charge of it. If it finds that the investigation is complete and that there is no benefit in expanding it, it shall issue one of the following decisions:\r\nA- A decision to dismiss the case against the defendant and release him if it finds that the evidence is insufficient to accuse him of a felony, or that the act attributed to him does not constitute a crime, or that the criminal nature has been removed from it for a reason of justification, or by the issuance of a new law amending the previous law, or that the public case has been dropped for one of the reasons for dropping specified in the law.\r\nB - A decision considering the act a misdemeanor or infraction, by which it refers the defendant to the single criminal judge and releases him if it considers the act an infraction or misdemeanor not requiring a prison sentence of more than one year.\r\nC - A decision to indict the defendant if it finds that the facts and evidence are sufficient to accuse him after giving the act attributed to him a criminal description.\r\nIt shall decide in its decision to refer the accused to the criminal court for trial on the charges against him and issue an arrest warrant against him.",
                            "position": 127,
                            "article_number": "130"
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 732,
                            "body": "The indictment decision must include the names of the members of the indictment chamber, the demands of the public prosecution, a clear and precise account of the facts of the case, an analysis of the evidence linking the crime to the act of the defendant, a reasoned legal description, and a specification of the legal texts applicable to the facts, as well as the issuance of an arrest warrant for the accused. It must also include the name of the accused, his surname, date of birth, the names of his parents, his registration number, place of residence, profession, nationality, date of arrest, and date of release if applicable.\r\nThe indictment decision must be signed by both the president of the chamber and its advisors. The arrest warrant must include the name of the accused, his surname, date of birth, the names of his parents, place of residence, profession, nationality, the type of felony attributed to him, the applicable legal text, and the order to the security forces to arrest the accused in execution of it.\r\nIf the indictment chamber issues its decision to refer the accused to the criminal court and neglects to issue an arrest warrant against him, it may issue this warrant at the request of the public prosecution.",
                            "position": 128,
                            "article_number": "131"
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 733,
                            "body": "If the indictment chamber finds a deficiency or ambiguity in the investigation, its president shall conduct a supplementary investigation or assign one of his advisors to do so.\r\nThe procedures governing the actions of the investigating judge in this regard shall be observed in the supplementary investigation.\r\nAfter the completion of the supplementary investigation, the case file shall be referred to the public prosecution to express its opinion in light of the developments in the case. Then the indictment chamber shall make the appropriate decision in it.",
                            "position": 129,
                            "article_number": "132"
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 734,
                            "body": "The indictment chamber shall issue a single indictment decision in related crimes. If some of them are misdemeanors, it shall refer the entire case to the criminal court.\r\nCrimes are considered related:\r\nA - If they are committed by several persons together at the same time.\r\nB - If they are committed by multiple persons at different times and places in execution of an agreement between them.\r\nC - If some of them are preparatory for others, or facilitate or execute them, or conceal their criminal results, or keep their perpetrators from being pursued.\r\nD - If several persons participate in concealing the items resulting from the crime, wholly or partially.",
                            "position": 130,
                            "article_number": "133"
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 735,
                            "body": "The indictment chamber, regardless of the conclusion reached by the investigating judge referred to it, may consider all felonies and misdemeanors related to them, either on its own initiative or at the request of the public prosecutor, and make the appropriate decision regarding them.\r\n It may conduct any additional investigative work on its own initiative or at the request of the public prosecutor, the defendant, or the civil claimant.",
                            "position": 131,
                            "article_number": "134"
                        }
                    ],
                    "category": "Title",
                    "children": [],
                    "position": 1
                },
                {
                    "id": 317,
                    "name": "The Indictment Authority as an Appellate Reference",
                    "number": "Second",
                    "articles": [
                        {
                            "id": 736,
                            "body": "The Indictment Chamber is the competent appellate authority to consider appeals against decisions of the Investigating Judge.\r\n1- The Public Prosecution may appeal all investigative decisions issued contrary to its request, whether administrative, investigative, or judicial, and the decision to withdraw the arrest decision due to lack of conditions, within a period of twenty-four hours from the date of issuance of the decision.\r\n2- The defendant may appeal the decisions of the Investigating Judge:\r\nA- The decision to reject his request for release.\r\nB- The decision to reject one or more of the defenses stipulated in Article 73 of this law.\r\n3- The personal plaintiff may appeal the following decisions:\r\n\r\nA- The decision accepting one or more of the defenses stipulated in Article 73 of this law if it is detrimental to his interest.\r\nB- The decision to release the defendant or to release him on bail.\r\nC- The decision to dismiss the case against the defendant.\r\nD- The decision classifying the alleged act as a misdemeanor.\r\nE- The decision to withdraw the arrest warrant for the defendant if it is contrary to the procedures.\r\nThe financially responsible party or guarantor may not appeal the decisions of the Investigating Judge except for the decision on jurisdiction.\r\n- The appeal period is twenty-four hours.\r\nIt begins for the personal plaintiff, the defendant, the financially responsible party, and the guarantor from the date of notification of the decision at their chosen residence within the city where the Investigating Judge's office is located unless they have a real residence there.",
                            "position": 132,
                            "article_number": "135"
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 737,
                            "body": "The appeal is submitted directly to the Indictment Chamber or through the Investigating Judge.\r\nThe Indictment Chamber must decide on the appeal of the Investigating Judge's decision within a maximum period of ten days from the time the file is deposited with it.",
                            "position": 133,
                            "article_number": "136"
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 738,
                            "body": "The appeal before the Indictment Chamber has a suspensive effect within the scope of its subject.\r\nIf it is submitted within the legal period, includes legal reasons and demands, and is signed by an appellate lawyer, the Indictment Chamber decides to accept the appeal in form and substance, either confirming, overturning, or amending the appealed decision.\r\nThe appeal submitted by the personal plaintiff against the decision to dismiss the case against the defendant reactivates the public prosecution and reopens it before the Indictment Chamber.\r\nIf the Indictment Chamber decides to dismiss the case against the defendant, he may request compensation for his damages in accordance with the provisions of Article 72 of this law.",
                            "position": 134,
                            "article_number": "137"
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 739,
                            "body": "If the Public Prosecution or the personal plaintiff appeals the decision to release the defendant or to withdraw his arrest warrant contrary to procedures, the appeal suspends the execution of the decision until it is decided within a period of twenty-four hours.\r\nIf this period expires without the Indictment Chamber making its decision, the Public Prosecutor must release him by law.",
                            "position": 135,
                            "article_number": "138"
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 740,
                            "body": "If the Indictment Chamber overturns the Investigating Judge's decision to release the defendant, it may issue an arrest warrant against him.\r\nIf the Chamber overturns the decision of the Investigating Judge rejecting the request for the defendant's release, the released person must choose a place of residence in the city or town where the Indictment Chamber's headquarters is located unless he has a real residence there.",
                            "position": 136,
                            "article_number": "139"
                        }
                    ],
                    "category": "Title",
                    "children": [],
                    "position": 1
                },
                {
                    "id": 318,
                    "name": "Right of Intervention",
                    "number": "Third",
                    "articles": [
                        {
                            "id": 741,
                            "body": "If the investigating judge issues a decision considering the act of the defendant as a felony, the indictment chamber, without the need for a public prosecution claim, can examine all crimes derived from the investigation and linked to the original crime and can address all persons for whom evidence of their involvement in these crimes is available.\r\nAs for crimes not linked to the original crime, the public prosecution must claim to initiate the public right lawsuit.\r\nIf an appeal is made against the decision of the investigating judge who refrained from taking an action or conducting an investigative act, and the indictment chamber overturns his decision, it undertakes the action or act instead of the investigating judge and can address the merits of the case.\r\nIf it examines an appeal against a decision issued by the investigating judge to prevent prosecution or not to proceed with the case for one or more of the reasons stated in Article 73 of this law, and decides to overturn it, it can address the merits of the case.\r\nIf the indictment chamber does not address the merits of the case, it refers the file to the first investigating judge to continue the investigation or to refer it to another investigating judge.",
                            "position": 137,
                            "article_number": "140"
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 742,
                            "body": "If the indictment chamber addresses the merits of the case, it conducts investigations and issues summons or arrest warrants, as appropriate, and can delegate one of its members to carry out these tasks.\r\nThe investigations conducted by the president or the delegated counselor are subject to the same procedures that govern the investigation by the investigating judge. Each of them can delegate an investigating judge or a single judge to carry out some investigative tasks according to the provisions that govern the delegation issued by the investigating judge.",
                            "position": 138,
                            "article_number": "141"
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 743,
                            "body": "After completing the investigations conducted by the indictment chamber itself or through one of its members, it returns the case file to the public prosecution to express its opinion again on the merits of the case. Then it issues its decision after reviewing the case and the additional investigations.",
                            "position": 139,
                            "article_number": "142"
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 744,
                            "body": "Decisions of the indictment chamber cannot be appealed before the Court of Cassation except for the reasons stated in Articles 306 and 307 of this law.\r\nThe period for appealing the decisions of the indictment chamber is fifteen days. It starts for the public prosecution from the date of issuance and for each of the personal plaintiff, the defendant, the financially responsible, and the guarantor from the date of notification according to the procedures stated in Articles 147 and 148 of this law, and it is considered notified if it is proven that they were aware of it.",
                            "position": 140,
                            "article_number": "143"
                        }
                    ],
                    "category": "Title",
                    "children": [],
                    "position": 1
                },
                {
                    "id": 319,
                    "name": "Deciding on Requests for Rehabilitation",
                    "number": "Fourth",
                    "articles": [
                        {
                            "id": 745,
                            "body": "Rehabilitation may be granted to any person convicted of a felony or misdemeanor. The decision is issued by the Indictment Chamber of the jurisdiction where the convicted person resides, based on their request.\r\nRehabilitation as stipulated in Articles 159 and 160 of the Penal Code is conducted according to the following procedures:\r\nA - The convicted person submits a request for rehabilitation to the Indictment Chamber. A copy of the judgment issued against them and a criminal record not older than one month from the date of the request must be attached.\r\nB - The Indictment Chamber appoints one of its members to verify that the request meets legal requirements and prepares a report to be submitted to the Chamber.\r\nThe Indictment Chamber submits the request along with the report to the Public Prosecution for its opinion.",
                            "position": 141,
                            "article_number": "144"
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 746,
                            "body": "If the Indictment Chamber decides to accept the request, a certified copy of its decision is sent to the Appellate Public Prosecutor, who forwards it to the Criminal Record Office for execution.",
                            "position": 142,
                            "article_number": "145"
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 747,
                            "body": "If the Indictment Chamber decides to reject the request for rehabilitation, the applicant may not resubmit it before six months have passed from the date they were notified of the rejection decision.",
                            "position": 143,
                            "article_number": "146"
                        }
                    ],
                    "category": "Title",
                    "children": [],
                    "position": 1
                }
            ],
            "position": 11
        },
        {
            "id": 320,
            "name": "Procedures for Serving Documents and Decisions Issued by the Judiciary",
            "number": "Fifth",
            "articles": [
                {
                    "id": 758,
                    "body": "Summons, memoranda, judgments, and decisions issued by the judiciary are served and judicial measures are executed by special security detachments directly subordinate to the Public Prosecutor, the First Investigating Judge, and the heads of competent bodies and courts. They are accountable to the head of the judicial body who assigns or tasks them with any notification or execution of any measure in case of their failure to do so within the specified time.\r\nThe person serving the notification is not entitled to notify themselves, their spouse, their ascendants, descendants, in-laws, or other relatives up to the fourth degree. The notification document must include the name of the requester, the name of the serving officer, their address, the date of assignment, the name of the person to be notified, and their address.\r\nIf it is a legal entity, it is notified at its main office.\r\nIn addition to the above, the notification document must mention the criminal act subject to prosecution, investigation, or trial, the legal text punishing it, the judicial authority handling the case, and the status of the person to be notified: plaintiff, defendant, financially responsible, guarantor, witness, etc.\r\nThe person tasked with the notification must execute the task without delay and make every effort to notify the intended person directly.\r\nThe person intended to be notified must sign the original copy of the notification document and receive a copy of it.\r\nIf they refuse to sign, are unable to do so, or refuse to receive the copy, the serving officer must note this on the original copy.\r\nIf the person intended to be notified is not present at their residence or dwelling, they are notified through a family member, servant, or any other person residing with them in the same dwelling, provided it is apparent that they are an adult.\r\nIt is also required that their interest does not conflict with the interest of the person to be notified.\r\nIf they refuse to state their name, their relation to the person to be notified, or to receive a copy, the serving officer records their refusal and leaves them a copy of the notification document.\r\nIf the person to be notified is a legal entity, they are notified through their legal representative, authorized signatory, or any person qualified to receive notifications on their behalf. A copy of the notification document is left with the notified party.\r\nDiplomatic and consular officials are notified of their summons through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.\r\nMilitary personnel are notified of their summons through their unit commanders.",
                    "position": 1,
                    "article_number": "147"
                },
                {
                    "id": 759,
                    "body": "If the person to be notified has no residence or dwelling, or if the serving officer finds no one to receive the notification at their residence or dwelling, the notification is carried out by affixing a copy of the notification document to the door of their last residence in a secure manner, delivering a second copy to the local mayor of their last residence, and affixing a third copy to the door of the judicial authority ordering the notification.\r\nThe serving officer must record these procedures on the original copy of the document and return it to its authority.\r\nIf the person to be notified has no last residence, the serving officer suffices by affixing a copy of the notification document to the door of the judicial authority ordering the notification.",
                    "position": 1,
                    "article_number": "148"
                },
                {
                    "id": 760,
                    "body": "The notification must be completed at least three days before the date the notified person is to appear before the judicial authority ordering the notification unless otherwise provided by law.\r\nIf the notification is directed to a person residing in a foreign country, it is done by registered mail with acknowledgment of receipt, through the Lebanese embassy or consulate in the mentioned country, or according to the rules established in local law.\r\nIf notification is not possible, the court may consider the person to whom the notification is directed as having an unknown residence and proceed with notification according to the provisions of Article 148 of this law. If notification procedures, including the notification period, are not observed, the judicial authority must declare the notification null and void in the absence of the person to be notified and re-notify according to Article 148 of this law.\r\nIf the person appears and requests the session to be postponed to another date before making any plea or defense in the case, the judge handling it decides to postpone it and notifies them of the new date. If they do not request this, the notification is considered valid. If the judicial authority declares the notification null due to an act related to the serving officer, they are fined an amount equivalent to the notification expenses and may be required, if necessary, to compensate the injured party for damages.\r\nThe notification period does not include the hour and day it occurs.\r\nIf the period ends on an official holiday or outside official working hours, it is extended to the next working day.",
                    "position": 1,
                    "article_number": "149"
                }
            ],
            "category": "Section",
            "children": [],
            "position": 11
        },
        {
            "id": 321,
            "name": "Judgment",
            "number": "Sixth",
            "articles": [],
            "category": "Section",
            "children": [
                {
                    "id": 322,
                    "name": "The Single Criminal Judge",
                    "number": "First",
                    "articles": [],
                    "category": "Title",
                    "children": [
                        {
                            "id": 323,
                            "name": "The Single Judge's Jurisdiction Over the Case",
                            "number": "One",
                            "articles": [
                                {
                                    "id": 770,
                                    "body": "The single judge considers cases of misdemeanors and violations except those excluded by a specific provision.\r\nThe public prosecution does not represent before him.",
                                    "position": 144,
                                    "article_number": "150"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 771,
                                    "body": "The single judge takes up the case in one of the following ways:\r\nA - Public prosecution claim.\r\nB - Direct lawsuit filed by the injured party, adopting the status of personal claimant.\r\nC - Indictment decision issued by the investigating judge or the indictment panel.\r\nD - Claim for compensation based on a decision of non-prosecution, acquittal, or annulment of proceedings.\r\nE - Decision to appoint the reference or transfer the case.\r\nF - In case a misdemeanor occurs during the trial session.\r\nG - Violations recorded in reports.",
                                    "position": 145,
                                    "article_number": "151"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 772,
                                    "body": "The public prosecutor claims a misdemeanor against a person whose identity has been determined before the single judge.\r\nThe claim includes a description of the alleged misdemeanor and the place of its commission, along with preliminary investigations, the complaint, and all documents justifying the prosecution.\r\nThe public prosecutor may later claim against a person who was overlooked in the initial claim as long as the case is pending before the single judge. The latter may point out the oversight without binding the prosecutor.\r\nThe public prosecutor may request the case file for review, provided it is returned within three days at most from the date of its submission.\r\nThe public prosecutor must sign the document containing his claim and cannot withdraw or waive his claim.\r\nHe cannot claim the same crime against the same person before the single judge if he has previously claimed it before the investigating judge.",
                                    "position": 146,
                                    "article_number": "152"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 773,
                                    "body": "If a person is caught in flagrante delicto committing a misdemeanor warranting imprisonment, they are brought before the public prosecutor, who interrogates and claims against them, then refers them to the single judge for immediate trial or the following day, considering Article 108 of this law. The public prosecutor may issue an arrest warrant against them, executed immediately, before referral.\r\nIf the defendant requests time before the single judge to consult a lawyer, they are granted a maximum of three days, non-extendable.\r\nThe public prosecutor specifies the names of witnesses in the flagrante delicto misdemeanor.\r\nThe single judge may decide to verbally notify them of the session date through the judicial police, security forces, or the bailiff's office.\r\nIf any witness refuses to attend, the single judge may issue a summons against them.",
                                    "position": 147,
                                    "article_number": "153"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 774,
                                    "body": "If the single judge finds that the case, in the flagrante delicto misdemeanor, is not ready for judgment, he decides to postpone it to another date not exceeding ten days. He may release the defendant automatically in the absence of a personal claim or upon their request, with or without bail, if he finds no necessity for continued detention, provided the released defendant establishes a residence in the town or city where the single judge's office is located.\r\nIn this case, he may decide to impose a travel ban if deemed necessary for a period not exceeding two months.\r\nIf the defendant requests release, a copy of their request is served to the personal claimant at their real residence within the single judge's jurisdiction or their chosen residence therein, who may comment on it within twenty-four hours of notification.\r\nThe single judge makes a decision either granting or rejecting the request within a similar period.\r\nBoth the personal claimant and the defendant may appeal the single judge's decision before the Court of Appeal within twenty-four hours of notification.\r\nThe public prosecution may appeal it within twenty-four hours of its issuance.",
                                    "position": 148,
                                    "article_number": "154"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 775,
                                    "body": "Any person harmed by a misdemeanor may file a direct complaint adopting the status of personal claimant before the single judge within whose jurisdiction the crime occurred, the defendant's residence, or the place of arrest.\r\nThe complaint is registered at the single judge's office, who decides to require the complainant to pay an advance covering fees and judicial expenses, not exceeding one percent of the claim's value.\r\nAdditionally, if the complainant is a foreigner, they are required to provide a bond, the type and amount of which are determined in the decision.\r\nThe judge may exempt the complainant from paying the advance if their financial situation prevents payment. He may also exempt the foreign complainant from the bond for the same reason with a reasoned decision. The complaint in which the complainant adopts the status of personal claimant and pays the required amounts, unless exempted, initiates the public right action. If either condition is not met, it is considered a report.\r\nIn this case, the judge decides to refer it to the public prosecutor to take a stance on initiating the public action.\r\nThe complainant may withdraw their complaint.\r\nIf they do so within two working days from submission, they are not liable for expenses incurred after withdrawal.\r\nWithdrawal does not affect the course of the public action except in cases where dropping the personal right action leads to dropping the public right action.\r\nIf the public action is initiated by the public prosecution's claim, the injured party may claim their personal rights accordingly.\r\nIn all cases, the personal claimant must establish a chosen residence within the city or town where the court's office is located and notify the court in writing of this residence.",
                                    "position": 149,
                                    "article_number": "155"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 776,
                                    "body": "The single judge sets the trial session and summons the claimant, defendant, witnesses, the financially responsible party, and the guarantor.\r\n The single judge serves the defendant a copy of the direct complaint with its attachments at least three days before the session date.",
                                    "position": 150,
                                    "article_number": "156"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 777,
                                    "body": "The defendant or their agent, without the presence of their client:\r\n1- May raise one or more defenses stipulated in Article 73 of this law before interrogation.\r\nThe single judge must serve the personal claimant a copy of the memorandum submitted by the defendant or their agent in this regard and grants them a maximum of five days to respond.\r\nAfter the deadline, the judge decides on the raised defense.\r\nThe public prosecutor may appeal this decision within twenty-four hours of its issuance.\r\nThe defendant or their agent, as well as the personal claimant or their agent, may appeal the decision within twenty-four hours of notification.\r\n2 - May request the suspension of the effect of the absentee arrest warrant issued by the investigating judge against them until the case is adjudicated. \r\nThe judge may decide, with or without bail, to suspend the execution of the absentee arrest warrant, provided the defendant commits to attending trial sessions.\r\nIf they fail to attend any of these sessions without a legitimate excuse, the judge may revoke the suspension decision.\r\n The decision to suspend execution or revoke it is not subject to any form of review.",
                                    "position": 151,
                                    "article_number": "157"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 778,
                                    "body": "If the investigating judge decides to indict the defendant for a misdemeanor or violation, the public prosecution refers the case file to the single judge within three days of its submission, unless the indictment decision is appealed.\r\nThe same deadline applies to referring the indictment decision issued by the indictment panel.\r\nThe single judge takes up the case based on the indictment decision.",
                                    "position": 152,
                                    "article_number": "158"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 779,
                                    "body": "If the investigating judge decides to prevent the trial, for legal or factual reasons, against the defendant, he may claim, against the personal plaintiff, compensation for his damages before the competent single criminal judge in accordance with the provisions of Article 72 of this law.",
                                    "position": 153,
                                    "article_number": "159"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 780,
                                    "body": "The single judge takes charge of the case when it is referred to him by a decision issued by the criminal chamber of the Court of Cassation as a result of deciding on a case of determining jurisdiction or transferring the case.\r\nIf the criminal chamber of the Court of Cassation decides to annul the decision of the single judge declaring his lack of jurisdiction to hear the case, it returns the case to him or to another single judge within the same judicial district to consider it.",
                                    "position": 154,
                                    "article_number": "160"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 781,
                                    "body": "If a misdemeanor occurs during the trial session before the single judge, a report is immediately drawn up in which the perpetrator is interrogated and witnesses are heard, if necessary, and the penalty required by the misdemeanor is decided in the same session.\r\nIf a prison sentence is imposed, he may issue a warrant for the detention of the convicted person to be executed immediately.\r\nHis decision is subject to appeal.\r\nIf the act committed during the trial is of a criminal nature, a decision is made to detain the perpetrator, and a report of what happened is drawn up and referred to the public prosecution with a note indicating the detention of the perpetrator.",
                                    "position": 155,
                                    "article_number": "161"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 782,
                                    "body": "The single criminal judge takes charge of the violations documented in reports organized by those entrusted by special laws with the task of organizing them and referring them to the competent court.",
                                    "position": 156,
                                    "article_number": "162"
                                }
                            ],
                            "category": "Chapter",
                            "children": [],
                            "position": 1
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 324,
                            "name": "Trial Procedures before the Single Judge",
                            "number": "Second",
                            "articles": [
                                {
                                    "id": 793,
                                    "body": "Upon the case being referred to the single judge's office, the court clerk shall prepare a report and the judge shall set a date for the session. The clerk shall then prepare the case documents for each of the plaintiff, the defendant, the financially responsible party, and the guarantor, and send them for notification.\r\nThe summons must be served at least three days before the trial begins.\r\nIn urgent cases, the judge may decide to shorten this period.\r\nIf any of the aforementioned parties appear in court, having learned of the session date, they cannot claim not to have been served the summons or that the three-day period was not observed.",
                                    "position": 157,
                                    "article_number": "163"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 794,
                                    "body": "Subject to the provisions of Article 165 of this law, the defendant who has been notified of the session date must personally appear in court.\r\nIf the defendant is a legal entity, their legal representative or an attorney on their behalf must appear.",
                                    "position": 158,
                                    "article_number": "164"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 795,
                                    "body": "The defendant must appear in person or send an attorney if the maximum penalty for the alleged crime does not exceed one year of imprisonment.\r\nIn this case, the trial is considered to be in their presence. If they do not appear in person or are not represented by an attorney, they will be tried in absentia.\r\nIf the judge finds it necessary for the defendant to appear personally, they will be notified through their attorney of the next session date for interrogation, and the decision must include the date and time of the session.\r\nIf the defendant is absent, the judge may take their absence as evidence of the validity of the allegations.\r\nIf the penalty for the alleged crime exceeds one year of imprisonment and the defendant does not appear in person despite being notified of the session date, they will be tried in absentia.",
                                    "position": 159,
                                    "article_number": "165"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 796,
                                    "body": "If the defendant is detained and has been notified of the session date but refuses to attend without a legitimate excuse, the trial will proceed in absentia against them.",
                                    "position": 160,
                                    "article_number": "166"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 797,
                                    "body": "If the crime attributed to the defendant is fully covered by a general amnesty, they may be represented by an attorney in the trial.",
                                    "position": 161,
                                    "article_number": "167"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 798,
                                    "body": "Both the personal plaintiff and the financially responsible party and guarantor may be represented by an attorney in the trial.\r\nIf the personal plaintiff fails to attend the trial session without an acceptable excuse and is not represented by an attorney despite being properly notified, they will be tried in absentia and the public case will proceed.\r\nThe judgment issued as a result of the trial cannot be objected to by them but can be appealed.\r\nIf the personal plaintiff attends one of the trial sessions, presents their claims, and then is absent from the remaining sessions without an acceptable excuse, the court may award them personal compensation even if they are tried in absentia as if present.\r\nIf the financially responsible party or guarantor is absent from the trial session, is not represented by an attorney, and does not provide an acceptable excuse despite being properly notified, they will be tried in absentia.\r\nThe judgment issued as a result of the trial cannot be objected to but can be appealed.",
                                    "position": 162,
                                    "article_number": "168"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 799,
                                    "body": "If the defendant attends the trial session and then is absent from subsequent sessions without an acceptable excuse, the trial is considered to be in their presence.",
                                    "position": 163,
                                    "article_number": "169"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 800,
                                    "body": "If the defendant is unable to attend court due to a significant health reason, and there are reasons not to postpone the trial, the single judge may move to the defendant's location after twenty-four hours of notifying them personally of the interrogation decision.\r\nA report of the proceedings is prepared and signed by the clerk and the defendant on each page.\r\nIf the defendant is absent from the trial after this interrogation and the health excuse persists, they may be represented by an attorney; otherwise, they will be tried as if present.\r\nThe personal plaintiff or their agent may attend these proceedings after being properly notified of their date.",
                                    "position": 164,
                                    "article_number": "170"
                                }
                            ],
                            "category": "Chapter",
                            "children": [],
                            "position": 1
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 325,
                            "name": "Objection to the Default Judgment",
                            "number": "Third",
                            "articles": [
                                {
                                    "id": 806,
                                    "body": "The absentia judgment must be notified to the convicted person according to the notification procedures specified in this law before sending the summary of this judgment for execution.\r\nThe absentia judgment issued against the convicted person shall not be executed unless it is notified according to the procedures specified in Articles 147 and following of this law.\r\nThe person convicted in absentia has the right to object to the absentia judgment within ten days from the date of its notification by submitting a petition to the court that issued the absentia judgment. If the notification does not comply with the mentioned provisions, he has the right to object to it throughout the period of the statute of limitations on the penalty imposed.\r\nIf the convicted person is not notified of the absentia judgment, this judgment is considered the last judicial transaction, and the statute of limitations on the public right lawsuit begins to run from its issuance.",
                                    "position": 165,
                                    "article_number": "171"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 807,
                                    "body": "The civil part of the absentia judgment becomes final after completing its notification procedures according to the notification provisions in the Code of Civil Procedure, and the person awarded personal compensation obtains an enforceable copy executed according to the provisions governing the execution of civil judgments.\r\nIf, as a result of appealing the absentia judgment after executing its civil part, the convicted person is declared innocent or the proceedings against him are annulled, he has the right to request the executor to return what was received and for damages and compensation.",
                                    "position": 166,
                                    "article_number": "172"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 808,
                                    "body": "The person convicted in absentia has the right to object to the absentia judgment issued against him in its entirety or to limit his objection to the civil obligations and compensations imposed.\r\nThe objector may attend the trial sessions in person or send a lawyer on his behalf if the sentence imposed does not exceed one year of imprisonment or if his objection is limited to the civil obligations and compensations imposed.\r\nIf he attends and his objection is submitted within the legal deadline and meets its formal requirements, the judge decides to annul the absentia judgment and consider it as if it never existed. The trial is conducted again according to the ordinary procedures.\r\nIf the objector fails to attend the first session without an acceptable excuse, the judge, considering the second paragraph of this article, decides to reject the objection formally.\r\nHis decision does not accept the objection but accepts the appeal that targets the first absentia judgment.\r\nThe appeal period runs from the date of notification of the judgment issued as a result of the objection.",
                                    "position": 167,
                                    "article_number": "173"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 809,
                                    "body": "If the defendant is justified in his objection, he is exempted from the costs of the absentia trial; otherwise, he is sentenced to them.\r\nThe court, when deciding to reject the objection formally, may impose a fine on the objector ranging between five hundred thousand and one million Lebanese pounds.",
                                    "position": 168,
                                    "article_number": "174"
                                }
                            ],
                            "category": "Chapter",
                            "children": [],
                            "position": 1
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 326,
                            "name": "Trial Procedures and Evidence Verification before the Single Judge",
                            "number": "Fourth",
                            "articles": [
                                {
                                    "id": 810,
                                    "body": "The single judge considers the case personally, that is, with respect to the defendants.\r\nHe is not entitled to address others unless a subsequent claim is made against them before the case is decided.\r\nIf evidence is found against persons other than the defendants, he must prepare a report on the matter and refer it to the public prosecutor without delay.",
                                    "position": 169,
                                    "article_number": "175"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 811,
                                    "body": "The single judge considers the facts stated in the public prosecution's claim, the direct complaint, or the indictment decision.\r\nHe may address the circumstances and facts accompanying the alleged crime that could affect its description.\r\nThe single judge is not bound by the legal description given to the alleged criminal act.\r\nIf he considers that the alleged crime constitutes a felony, he declares his lack of jurisdiction to hear the case.",
                                    "position": 170,
                                    "article_number": "176"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 812,
                                    "body": "If the single judge declares his lack of jurisdiction because the alleged act is a felony, he refers the case file to the public prosecutor.\r\nHe may issue an arrest warrant against the defendant if the case was brought directly before him.\r\nHowever, if it was referred to him by the public prosecution's claim or based on an indictment decision, he suffices by declaring his lack of jurisdiction and referring the case to the public prosecutor.",
                                    "position": 171,
                                    "article_number": "177"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 813,
                                    "body": "The trial is conducted publicly and orally, otherwise it is void unless the single judge decides to conduct it in secret for reasons of maintaining public order or public morals.\r\nIn all cases, minors can be prevented from attending.",
                                    "position": 172,
                                    "article_number": "178"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 814,
                                    "body": "Crimes alleged can be proven by all means of evidence unless a contrary provision exists.\r\nThe judge cannot base his judgment except on the evidence available to him, provided it has been subject to public discussion during the trial.\r\nThe judge evaluates the evidence to establish his personal conviction.",
                                    "position": 173,
                                    "article_number": "179"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 815,
                                    "body": "At the start of the trial, the clerk reads the public prosecution's claim or the indictment decision or summarizes the facts stated in the direct complaint and the evidence against the defendant.\r\nThe judge listens to the statements of the personal plaintiff or his agent.\r\nThen, he interrogates the defendant in the presence of his lawyer if he has appointed one to assist him in the case.\r\nIf the defendant refuses to answer and remains silent, the judge or the plaintiff cannot force him to speak. The judge cannot take his silence as evidence of guilt.",
                                    "position": 174,
                                    "article_number": "180"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 816,
                                    "body": "The parties to the case may request witnesses they name, and the single judge may summon any witness he deems beneficial to hear.\r\nThe witness is not heard until after taking the following oath:\r\n\"I swear by Almighty God to testify truthfully and nothing but the truth.\" This oath is recorded in the trial minutes.\r\nAfter the judge finishes hearing the witness, the personal plaintiff or his agent and the defendant or his agent may ask him questions related to the case through the judge.\r\nThe judge may refuse to ask any question he deems unhelpful. If insisted upon, he must record the question and the decision to reject it.\r\nEvery witness must be notified of their summons at least three days before the session date.\r\nIf the witness appears in court, knowing he is summoned to testify, he cannot claim not being notified of his summons or the three-day notice period.",
                                    "position": 175,
                                    "article_number": "181"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 817,
                                    "body": "After dismissing the other witnesses, the judge must ask the witness, before taking the oath mentioned in the previous article, about his name, surname, date of birth, parents' names, nationality, registration number, place of residence, and whether there is any kinship or enmity with the defendant.\r\nIn principle, the testimony of the defendant's ascendants, descendants, siblings, and those of the same degree by marriage, and the spouse, even after divorce, is not accepted.\r\nThe judge may hear the testimony of any of these if neither the personal plaintiff nor the defendant objects, and such testimony is not void.\r\nHowever, an objection by either party does not prevent the judge from hearing them for information purposes.\r\nThe testimony of a minor under eighteen is only accepted for information purposes. Anyone under seven is only heard for information purposes with a reasoned decision.",
                                    "position": 176,
                                    "article_number": "182"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 818,
                                    "body": "If the witness fails to appear despite being duly notified of his summons and does not provide an acceptable excuse, the judge may impose a fine ranging from one hundred thousand to five hundred thousand Lebanese pounds.\r\nA witness fined may request the judge to exempt him if he presents a legitimate excuse. The judge may decide to bring the witness who failed to appear a second time after notification and having been fined previously.",
                                    "position": 177,
                                    "article_number": "183"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 819,
                                    "body": "The judge may decide on his own or at the request of one of the parties to the case to hear a witness present in the courtroom.\r\nIf the witness does not speak Arabic or is deaf or mute, the judge appoints an interpreter for him, who takes an oath to perform the task honestly and faithfully.",
                                    "position": 178,
                                    "article_number": "184"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 820,
                                    "body": "The testimony concerns the facts of the alleged crime, its circumstances, and the nature of the defendant's involvement.\r\nIf the witness summoned before the single judge is the one who informed the competent authority of the crime, the judge must indicate this before hearing him.\r\nIf the witness is an informant who reported the crime for a fee, the judge may hear him for information purposes.",
                                    "position": 179,
                                    "article_number": "185"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 821,
                                    "body": "The witness gives his testimony orally.\r\nNeither the plaintiff nor the defendant nor their agents may interrupt him.\r\nThe witness may ask the judge for permission to use documents or papers when giving his testimony.\r\nThe judge may keep the witness outside the courtroom after hearing him to summon him again and listen to him anew or to confront him with other witnesses.\r\nThe judge presents the criminal materials and evidentiary items to the witness and questions him about them, and may read to him his statement in the preliminary or investigative interrogation and clarify it and whether he supports it.",
                                    "position": 180,
                                    "article_number": "186"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 822,
                                    "body": "No party in the case has the right to object to hearing a witness who has begun giving his testimony after taking the oath.\r\nThe testimony of one of the defendants against his accomplices in the crime does not constitute sufficient evidence for proof.\r\nIts evaluation is left to the judge in light of the evidence available to him.",
                                    "position": 181,
                                    "article_number": "187"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 823,
                                    "body": "If the judge finds that the witness is giving false testimony, he instructs the security forces to place him in the police station's detention and prepares a report to the public prosecutor on this matter, indicating the witness's detention.\r\nThe public prosecutor may prosecute this witness for perjury according to the procedures.",
                                    "position": 182,
                                    "article_number": "188"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 824,
                                    "body": "The witness signs the minutes of his testimony after it is read to him.",
                                    "position": 183,
                                    "article_number": "189"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 825,
                                    "body": "The reports and records attached to the case file do not have evidentiary power unless they are correct in form and were prepared by someone within the limits of their function and jurisdiction, and they recorded what they saw, heard, or verified themselves.\r\nIf the report is one that the law requires to be relied upon until proven forged, the judge must accept it.\r\nHe may not allow personal evidence to be presented against it. If the report is one that the law grants evidentiary power until the contrary is proven, the defendant may prove otherwise with written evidence or testimony.",
                                    "position": 184,
                                    "article_number": "190"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 826,
                                    "body": "After completing what the judge deems necessary to secure his conviction, he listens to the demands of the personal plaintiff or the pleading of his agent, then listens to the defendant or the pleading of his agent, then to the financially responsible party and the guarantor, if any, or their agent, ensuring that the final word remains with the defendant.\r\nThe defendant may plead in defense of himself even in the presence of his agent.",
                                    "position": 185,
                                    "article_number": "191"
                                }
                            ],
                            "category": "Chapter",
                            "children": [],
                            "position": 1
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 327,
                            "name": "Decisions Issued by the Single Criminal Judge Regarding Detention",
                            "number": "Fifth",
                            "articles": [
                                {
                                    "id": 864,
                                    "body": "The single judge may decide to release the detained defendant after consulting the public prosecutor.\r\nThe defendant submits his request for release to the single judge in two copies.\r\nA copy is delivered to the personal plaintiff, if present, at his chosen place of residence unless he has a real residence within the town or city where the court is located. If he has not chosen a residence, he is notified at the court registry.\r\nThe personal plaintiff may object to the request within twenty-four hours from the date of notification.\r\nAfter the deadline, the single judge decides on the request.\r\nIf the judge decides to release the defendant, the personal plaintiff may appeal the decision before the Court of Appeal to which the single judge belongs within twenty-four hours from the date of notification.\r\nIf the request is denied, the defendant may appeal the decision from the date of notification within the same period.\r\nThe public prosecutor may appeal the single judge's decision within twenty-four hours from the date of issuance. An appeal by the personal plaintiff or the public prosecutor within the legal deadline suspends the execution of the decision.\r\nBoth the personal plaintiff and the defendant may appeal, within the aforementioned deadlines, the part related to the amount of bail in the release decision.\r\nThe provisions of Article 108 of this law apply to the duration of detention and the travel ban.",
                                    "position": 1,
                                    "article_number": "192"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 865,
                                    "body": "The single judge may issue an arrest warrant against the defendant if he is convicted in absentia with a prison sentence of more than one year, provided that the arrest decision is justified.\r\nThe arrest warrant remains in effect despite the appeal of the judgment.",
                                    "position": 1,
                                    "article_number": "193"
                                }
                            ],
                            "category": "Chapter",
                            "children": [],
                            "position": 1
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 328,
                            "name": "Judgments Issued by the Single Judge",
                            "number": "Sixth",
                            "articles": [
                                {
                                    "id": 866,
                                    "body": "After the trial is concluded, the single judge issues his judgment at the end of the session or in a subsequent session.\r\nThe judgment must be signed by the judge and the clerk, dated with its issuance date, and must include a clear presentation of the facts established by the judge, an analysis of the evidence supporting them, sufficient precision in the reasons and justifications for it, and the legal provisions applicable to the offense.\r\nIt must mention the legal basis under which the single judge assumed jurisdiction over the case.\r\nThe judge must decide on the defenses and issues raised before him by the parties to the case.\r\nHe must decide on the public lawsuit and the civil lawsuit if it was filed following the public lawsuit or by direct complaint, and issue his judgment publicly.\r\nHe may not address in his judgment facts not claimed or persons not accused.",
                                    "position": 186,
                                    "article_number": "194"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 867,
                                    "body": "If the single judge finds that the facts established have a criminal description, he declares his lack of jurisdiction to consider them and refers the case file to the public prosecution.\r\nIf during the investigation of the case, he discovers crimes not claimed or persons not accused, he refers the case file to the public prosecution to claim the acts or against the persons following its original claim or in an independent lawsuit.",
                                    "position": 187,
                                    "article_number": "195"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 868,
                                    "body": "If the single judge finds that the alleged misdemeanor is complete in its elements and the evidence is sufficient to establish the causal link between it and the act of the accused, he confirms it, specifies the applicable legal provisions, and convicts the accused with the prescribed penalty, and awards all civil compensations and obligations to the personal plaintiff if requested and the conditions for judgment are met.\r\nIf the imposed penalty is a fine or imprisonment with a suspended sentence, he orders the release of the convicted person if detained.",
                                    "position": 188,
                                    "article_number": "196"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 869,
                                    "body": "If the judge finds that the evidence of the accused's involvement in committing the alleged misdemeanor is insufficient, he declares the latter's acquittal and orders his immediate release if detained.\r\nWhen acquitting the accused, he must award damages to the personal plaintiff if requested, in case the personal plaintiff exceeded his right to litigation.\r\nIf the accused did not request compensation for the damage suffered during the criminal trial and until its conclusion, he may still request it before the same authority in an independent lawsuit within three months from the date of notification of the acquittal judgment or the decision confirming it.",
                                    "position": 189,
                                    "article_number": "197"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 870,
                                    "body": "If the single judge finds that the alleged act does not constitute a criminal offense, is exempt from punishment, is not punishable by imprisonment, or the criminal nature has been removed for any reason, or the case has been dismissed for any reason, he orders the annulment of the proceedings against the accused and his immediate release if detained.\r\nThe provisions of the previous article regarding the request for damages apply.",
                                    "position": 190,
                                    "article_number": "198"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 871,
                                    "body": "If the single judge finds that the act constitutes an infraction, he rules accordingly and awards compensation to the injured party if requested.\r\nHe must order the immediate release of the accused if detained.",
                                    "position": 191,
                                    "article_number": "199"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 872,
                                    "body": "The costs of the lawsuit are charged to the party not entitled.\r\nThe personal plaintiff may be exempted from all or part of the costs if the judge finds that he acted in good faith, unless he initiated the public lawsuit with his direct complaint.",
                                    "position": 192,
                                    "article_number": "200"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 873,
                                    "body": "The single judge may decide on requests for the return of seized items even if he has ruled on the merits of the case and thus no longer has jurisdiction over it, unless his judgment is subject to appeal.\r\nThe decision ordering the return of seized items or refusing their return is subject to appeal.",
                                    "position": 193,
                                    "article_number": "201"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 874,
                                    "body": "The single judge may order part of the compensation awarded to the personal plaintiff to be executed immediately, even if his judgment is subject to appeal.",
                                    "position": 194,
                                    "article_number": "202"
                                }
                            ],
                            "category": "Chapter",
                            "children": [],
                            "position": 1
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 329,
                            "name": "Summary Procedures",
                            "number": "Seventh",
                            "articles": [
                                {
                                    "id": 875,
                                    "body": "The summary procedures apply to violations of municipal, health, and traffic regulations.\r\nWhen a violation of the aforementioned regulations occurs, whether it warrants a disciplinary or misdemeanor penalty, the report that establishes it is sent to the single judge who imposes the penalty required by law without summoning the defendant.\r\nThe judge issues his ruling within ten days unless the law requires a shorter period.",
                                    "position": 195,
                                    "article_number": "203"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 876,
                                    "body": "The facts established by the report are considered correct unless it is found that there is a violation of the procedures in its organization.\r\nThe judge must describe the facts, specify the applicable legal article, and impose the penalty on the defendant unless it is found:\r\nA - That the act attributed to the defendant does not constitute a crime or is completely exempt from punishment.\r\nB - That he is not competent to consider the violation.\r\nC - That the public right lawsuit has been dropped for some reason.\r\nIf he decides to declare his incompetence, he administratively refers the case file to the competent single judge.",
                                    "position": 196,
                                    "article_number": "204"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 877,
                                    "body": "The decision issued by the single judge in one of the mentioned violations is considered enforceable unless the convicted person, within ten days from the date of notification, objects to it according to the ordinary procedures.\r\nThe public prosecutor can object to the decision within ten days from its issuance according to the ordinary procedures.\r\nIf the objection is dismissed in form, the penalty imposed is increased by half as a maximum.",
                                    "position": 197,
                                    "article_number": "205"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 878,
                                    "body": "The summary procedures mentioned above do not apply when there is a personal plaintiff in the case.",
                                    "position": 198,
                                    "article_number": "206"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 879,
                                    "body": "After the judgment becomes final and justified, either by the expiration of the objection period, the withdrawal of the objector from his objection, or the dismissal of the objection, the clerk sends a summary of the judgment, marked \"Enforceable,\" to the public prosecution within five days from the finalization of the judgment.\r\nIf the clerk does not comply with the provisions of this article, he is fined, by a decision issued by the single judge, an amount ranging between one hundred thousand and five hundred thousand Lebanese pounds.",
                                    "position": 199,
                                    "article_number": "207"
                                }
                            ],
                            "category": "Chapter",
                            "children": [],
                            "position": 1
                        }
                    ],
                    "position": 1
                },
                {
                    "id": 330,
                    "name": "Court of Appeal as an Appellate Authority for Judgments and Decisions of the Single Judge",
                    "number": "Second",
                    "articles": [],
                    "category": "Title",
                    "children": [
                        {
                            "id": 331,
                            "name": "Exercise of the Right of Appeal",
                            "number": "One",
                            "articles": [
                                {
                                    "id": 880,
                                    "body": "The defendant, the convicted person, has the right to appeal the initial judgment, whether regarding its decision on the penalty or compensation.\r\nHe has the right to appeal the judgment acquitting him if it obliges him to pay all or part of the legal expenses and the judgment that awarded him compensation for the plaintiff's abuse of his right to sue.",
                                    "position": 200,
                                    "article_number": "208"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 881,
                                    "body": "The financially responsible party or guarantor has the right to appeal the judgment that obliges him, jointly with the convicted defendant, to compensate the personal plaintiff.\r\nHe can appeal this judgment alone even if the defendant has accepted it. In this latter case, he alone benefits from his appeal.",
                                    "position": 201,
                                    "article_number": "209"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 882,
                                    "body": "The personal plaintiff has the right to appeal the part of the judgment related to the civil lawsuit. If the civil lawsuit was dismissed following an acquittal judgment, he has the right to appeal the judgment dismissing it even if the acquittal judgment has become final due to the public prosecution not appealing.\r\nHe has the right to appeal the paragraph of the judgment obliging him to compensate the defendant.",
                                    "position": 202,
                                    "article_number": "210"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 883,
                                    "body": "The appellate public prosecution has the right to appeal judgments concerning the public lawsuit.\r\nThe cassation public prosecution can request in writing from the appellate public prosecution to appeal an initial judgment that acquitted the defendant, annulled the proceedings against him, dropped the public right lawsuit against him, or declared the court's lack of jurisdiction to hear the case.",
                                    "position": 203,
                                    "article_number": "211"
                                }
                            ],
                            "category": "Chapter",
                            "children": [],
                            "position": 1
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 332,
                            "name": "Judgments That Can Be Appealed",
                            "number": "Second",
                            "articles": [
                                {
                                    "id": 884,
                                    "body": "Appeals are accepted for judgments issued in misdemeanor cases.\r\nAppeals are not accepted for judgments issued in violations unless they rule:\r\nA - Imprisonment, disciplinary detention, or a fine exceeding five hundred thousand Lebanese pounds.\r\nB - An additional or subsidiary penalty or personal compensation exceeding five hundred thousand Lebanese pounds.\r\nC - Rejection of a plea from the pleas stipulated in Article 73 of this law.\r\nD - A penalty for a violation associated with a misdemeanor.",
                                    "position": 1,
                                    "article_number": "212"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 885,
                                    "body": "Non-final decisions on the merits of the dispute may not be appealed except with the final judgment.\r\nExceptions to this principle include decisions that resolve one or more of the pleas stipulated in Article 73 of this law, decisions on release, and decisions by which the single judge concludes the case without addressing the merits.",
                                    "position": 1,
                                    "article_number": "213"
                                }
                            ],
                            "category": "Chapter",
                            "children": [],
                            "position": 1
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 333,
                            "name": "Formal Conditions for Accepting the Appeal",
                            "number": "Third",
                            "articles": [
                                {
                                    "id": 886,
                                    "body": "Each of the personal plaintiff, the defendant, the financially responsible party, and the guarantor has the right to appeal the primary judgment within fifteen days from the date of its issuance if it was in person, and from the date of its notification if it was considered as in person or in absentia, or if it was a judgment dismissing the objection in form.\r\nThe public prosecutor has the right to appeal the judgment within one month from the date of its issuance.\r\nThe rules mentioned in Articles 165 to 170 of this law apply to the description of the judgment as in absentia or in person.",
                                    "position": 204,
                                    "article_number": "214"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 887,
                                    "body": "If the judgment is not issued on the date specified in the final session for its issuance, each party to the lawsuit has the right to appeal it within fifteen days from the date of its notification.",
                                    "position": 205,
                                    "article_number": "215"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 888,
                                    "body": "Anyone who did not appeal the primary judgment, from the parties to the lawsuit, within the fifteen-day period, may submit a subsidiary appeal within five days from the date of being informed of the date of the first appellate session if one of the parties to the lawsuit has filed an original appeal.\r\nThe dismissal of the original appeal for a formal reason entails the dismissal of the subsidiary appeal.",
                                    "position": 206,
                                    "article_number": "216"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 889,
                                    "body": "The appeal is submitted, through an appellate lawyer, to the Court of Appeal to which the judge who issued the appealed judgment belongs or through him. The appeal must include the reasons presented by the submitter and his demands.",
                                    "position": 207,
                                    "article_number": "217"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 890,
                                    "body": "If the appeal is submitted through the single judge who issued the appealed judgment, he must send the appeal with the case file within three days from the date of its submission.\r\nIf the convicted person is detained, the public prosecution may order his transfer to the detention place located at the Court of Appeal.\r\nIf the duration of his sentence expires before his appeal is decided, the public prosecution shall release him immediately.",
                                    "position": 208,
                                    "article_number": "218"
                                }
                            ],
                            "category": "Chapter",
                            "children": [],
                            "position": 1
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 334,
                            "name": "Effects of Appeal and Procedures of Trial at the Court of Appeal",
                            "number": "Fourth",
                            "articles": [
                                {
                                    "id": 891,
                                    "body": "The initial judgment cannot be executed before the expiration of the appeal period or before it is decided upon when appealed.\r\nThe appeal suspends the execution of the appealed judgment.\r\nHowever, what the single judge decides as a temporary advance from the principal compensation for the personal plaintiff is subject to expedited execution unless the Court of Appeal decides otherwise within the framework of reviewing the appealed initial judgment.\r\nThe arrest warrant issued by the single judge pursuant to Article 193 of this law remains in effect unless the Court of Appeal decides to release the detainee.",
                                    "position": 209,
                                    "article_number": "219"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 892,
                                    "body": "The appeal by the public prosecutor reopens the entire public case before the Court of Appeal unless it pertains to a specific part, in which case its effect is limited to that part.\r\nAs for the appeal submitted by the defendant, it binds the Court of Appeal within the limits of what was appealed from the judgment.\r\nThe Court of Appeal cannot consider new facts that may constitute crimes and were not presented to the single judge who issued the appealed judgment.",
                                    "position": 210,
                                    "article_number": "220"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 893,
                                    "body": "If the defendant appeals the initial judgment without the other parties, the Court of Appeal cannot increase the penalty imposed on him or the compensations awarded to the personal plaintiff.",
                                    "position": 211,
                                    "article_number": "221"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 894,
                                    "body": "The appeal by the personal plaintiff alone reopens the civil aspect of the case before the Court of Appeal.\r\nThe Court of Appeal cannot reduce the compensations awarded to him.",
                                    "position": 212,
                                    "article_number": "222"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 895,
                                    "body": "The Court of Appeal sets a date for the trial and adheres to the regular procedures that organize the trial before the single judge. The public prosecution is represented by the public prosecutor or one of the public attorneys.\r\nIt listens to the demands of the personal plaintiff or his agent if either is present, to the pleading of the public prosecution representative, then to the pleading of the defense attorney and the defendant himself if he requests it.\r\nIf it is satisfied with the facts and evidence contained in the case file, it concludes the trial and issues the judgment at the end of the session or sets another date for its issuance.",
                                    "position": 213,
                                    "article_number": "223"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 896,
                                    "body": "If the court sees the need to expand the investigation, it summons witnesses and conducts the investigative procedures it deems useful, either in a public session or by assigning one of its members to conduct an additional investigation according to regular procedures.\r\nUpon completion of the additional investigation, its documents are added to the case file, and all parties in the case have the right to review and discuss it in a public session.",
                                    "position": 214,
                                    "article_number": "224"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 897,
                                    "body": "After the Court of Appeal completes its investigative procedures, it issues a decision to annul, amend, or confirm the appealed judgment based on the reasoning it adopts in place of the reasoning contained therein.",
                                    "position": 215,
                                    "article_number": "225"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 898,
                                    "body": "If the court annuls the appealed judgment and declares the defendant's innocence or nullifies the proceedings against him, it simultaneously orders his release if detained and dismisses the civil case.\r\nThe defendant, whose innocence is declared or against whom proceedings are nullified, may demand compensation from the plaintiff who exceeded his right to litigate, for the damage he suffered, according to the provisions of Article 197 of this law.",
                                    "position": 216,
                                    "article_number": "226"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 899,
                                    "body": "If the public prosecution appeals the initial judgment, the entire case is reopened before the Court of Appeal.\r\nIf the court finds that the facts available in the case constitute a criminal description, it decides to annul the appealed judgment and declares its lack of jurisdiction.\r\nIt may issue an arrest warrant against the defendant and refer the case file to the public prosecution to present it before the investigating judge.\r\nThe jurisdictional dispute is resolved, upon the finalization of its decision, by appointing the reference.",
                                    "position": 217,
                                    "article_number": "227"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 900,
                                    "body": "If it is established to the Court of Appeal that the single judge who issued the appealed judgment was not competent to hear the case, it suffices to annul the judgment for lack of jurisdiction and to deposit the case file with the public prosecution for necessary action.",
                                    "position": 218,
                                    "article_number": "228"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 901,
                                    "body": "If the Court of Appeal finds that the act subject of the case is of the nature of a violation, it rules on it after annulling the appealed judgment.",
                                    "position": 219,
                                    "article_number": "229"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 902,
                                    "body": "If the Court of Appeal annuls the appealed judgment for violating the law or for breaching fundamental procedural rules, it addresses the merits of the case and decides on it.",
                                    "position": 220,
                                    "article_number": "230"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 903,
                                    "body": "An objection to the default judgment issued by the Court of Appeal is permissible according to the procedures governing objections to the default judgment issued by the single judge and within the same period.",
                                    "position": 221,
                                    "article_number": "231"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 904,
                                    "body": "The Court of Appeal may decide, after consulting the public prosecution, to release the detained defendant.\r\nIts decision is not subject to any form of review.",
                                    "position": 222,
                                    "article_number": "232"
                                }
                            ],
                            "category": "Chapter",
                            "children": [],
                            "position": 1
                        }
                    ],
                    "position": 1
                },
                {
                    "id": 335,
                    "name": "Criminal Court",
                    "number": "Third",
                    "articles": [],
                    "category": "Title",
                    "children": [
                        {
                            "id": 336,
                            "name": "General Provisions",
                            "number": "One",
                            "articles": [
                                {
                                    "id": 905,
                                    "body": "The Criminal Court is composed of a president and advisors.\r\nIt convenes in the presence of the public prosecutor or the public attorney and the clerk.\r\nIt takes up the case based on an indictment decision accompanied by a public prosecution claim.\r\nThe court considers crimes of a criminal nature and misdemeanors associated with them.\r\nIt is not allowed to consider any criminal act not covered by the indictment decision or to try a person not accused in it. It may change the legal description of the acts subject to the indictment decision.",
                                    "position": 1,
                                    "article_number": "233"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 906,
                                    "body": "No one who has previously participated in the prosecution or investigation of the case or was a member of the indictment body that issued the indictment decision may participate in the formation of the Criminal Court.",
                                    "position": 1,
                                    "article_number": "234"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 907,
                                    "body": "At the beginning of each session, the trial record must include the names of the president of the court, its advisors, the public prosecutor's representative, the clerk, and the time the session was opened, and all must sign the record at the end of each session, except for the public prosecutor's representative.\r\nIf any of them fails to sign, the session is void.\r\nAll investigation and trial procedures are recorded in the minutes. The president dictates to the clerk what should be recorded.",
                                    "position": 1,
                                    "article_number": "235"
                                }
                            ],
                            "category": "Chapter",
                            "children": [],
                            "position": 1
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 337,
                            "name": "Actions Preparatory to Trial Before the Criminal Court",
                            "number": "Second",
                            "articles": [
                                {
                                    "id": 908,
                                    "body": "The public prosecutor prepares a list of public right witnesses and notifies the accused with a copy of it and the indictment decision.\r\nAfter completing the notification process, the public prosecution sends the case file to the criminal court after ordering the transfer of the detained accused to the detention location under its jurisdiction.\r\nA trial conducted without public right witnesses and the judgment issued as a result are subject to annulment.",
                                    "position": 223,
                                    "article_number": "236"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 909,
                                    "body": "The president of the court, or one of his appointed advisors, interrogates the accused after bringing him in and before the trial session.\r\nIf the accused is not detained, the president of the court issues a grace decision against him, inviting him to surrender himself within twenty-four hours from the start of the trial.\r\nIf he surrenders himself within the mentioned period, he remains detained until a decision is made to release him.\r\nIf he refuses without an acceptable excuse, he is considered a fugitive from justice, and the arrest warrant issued against him is put into effect.\r\nIf he has not appointed a lawyer, the president or the appointed advisor must request the Bar Association president to appoint a lawyer to defend him within twenty-four hours from the time of notification or appoint one himself.\r\nA record of the preliminary interrogation is made, signed by the president or the appointed advisor, the accused, and the clerk.",
                                    "position": 224,
                                    "article_number": "237"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 910,
                                    "body": "The preliminary interrogation involves asking the accused whether he has been notified of the indictment decision and the list of public right witnesses, and whether he has appointed a lawyer to assist him in the trial, as well as asking about his social status and his observations on the charge against him and the investigations conducted.\r\nIf he has not appointed a lawyer, the president or the appointed advisor must request the Bar Association president to appoint a lawyer to defend him within twenty-four hours from the time of notification or appoint one himself.\r\nA record of the preliminary interrogation is made, signed by the president or the appointed advisor, the accused, and the clerk.",
                                    "position": 225,
                                    "article_number": "238"
                                }
                            ],
                            "category": "Chapter",
                            "children": [],
                            "position": 1
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 338,
                            "name": "Trial Proceedings",
                            "number": "Third",
                            "articles": [
                                {
                                    "id": 911,
                                    "body": "All parties have the right to review the case file and obtain a copy of it.",
                                    "position": 226,
                                    "article_number": "239"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 912,
                                    "body": "The civil plaintiff before the Criminal Court is required to appoint a lawyer to defend them.\r\nIf multiple individuals are accused of committing a single felony or related felonies, and separate indictment decisions are issued against each or some of them, the court president may decide to consolidate the decisions into a single case.",
                                    "position": 227,
                                    "article_number": "240"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 913,
                                    "body": "If the indictment decision includes unrelated felonies, the court president may decide to start the trial of the accused for some of these felonies and then for the others.",
                                    "position": 228,
                                    "article_number": "241"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 914,
                                    "body": "The president of the Criminal Court sets the trial date and summons the civil plaintiff and witnesses. They also issue a notice granting the accused, who was released during the preliminary investigation, a deadline to surrender to the court within twenty-four hours before the trial begins.\r\nThis deadline applies from the date of notification of this decision in accordance with the provisions of Articles 147, 148, and 149 of this law.\r\nIf the accused surrenders within the deadline, they will be tried in person, and the arrest warrant will be executed against them.\r\nIf they do not, they will be tried in absentia, and the procedures for trying a fugitive from justice will apply.",
                                    "position": 229,
                                    "article_number": "242"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 915,
                                    "body": "Before ruling on the subject of the case, the court makes the following decisions:\r\nA - The decision that rules on the plea of incompetence based on the fact that the accused was a minor at the time of the felony they are accused of.\r\nIf the court declares its incompetence, and there is another accused in the case, the separation procedure is conducted, and the minor's file is referred to the public prosecution to be submitted to the juvenile court.\r\nB - The decision that rules on one or more procedural defenses raised by the parties to the case.\r\nC - The decision that rules on the substantive defense reasons.\r\nD - The decision to suspend the execution of the arrest warrant until the formation of the adversarial process before the court is complete if the accused was released during the preliminary investigation.\r\nE - The decision to release the detained accused.\r\nThe release is conditional upon the accused choosing a designated residence within the town or city where the court is located to receive its papers and notices and surrendering to it twenty-four hours before each session and paying the bail set by the court, provided they remain detained from the end of the trial session until the verdict is issued.\r\nIf they miss a session without an acceptable excuse, they are considered a fugitive from justice, and the procedures for trying a fugitive apply. The court may decide to prohibit the released accused from traveling until the verdict is issued and executed.\r\nThe court cannot make its decision on the release request without consulting the public prosecution.\r\nThe court must observe the provisions of Article 108 of this law.\r\nThe decision ruling on the release request of the accused is not subject to any form of review.",
                                    "position": 230,
                                    "article_number": "243"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 916,
                                    "body": "The parties to the case, before and during the trial, may request the summoning of witnesses they name. The list of witnesses named by the accused must be communicated to the public prosecutor and the civil plaintiff at least twenty-four hours before their hearing.\r\nSimilarly, the accused must be informed of the list of witnesses named by the civil plaintiff or the public prosecutor within the same timeframe.\r\nThe court president may decide on their own to summon experts who have performed technical tasks in the case for clarification and witnesses whose testimony is deemed beneficial.\r\nEach of the accused and the civil plaintiff bears the expenses of summoning and transporting the witnesses they named.",
                                    "position": 231,
                                    "article_number": "244"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 917,
                                    "body": "If the court president finds, before the trial begins, that the case data is incomplete, they may decide to conduct additional investigations in the presence of the parties, either personally or by appointing one of the advisors for this purpose.\r\nAfter completing the additional investigation, the records prepared are added to the case file.",
                                    "position": 232,
                                    "article_number": "245"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 918,
                                    "body": "The court president oversees maintaining order inside the courtroom and takes necessary measures for the proper conduct of the trial.\r\nSecurity personnel assigned to maintain order in the court must follow their orders in this regard.\r\nIf someone in the courtroom causes a disturbance, the president may order their removal.\r\nIf they resist the order, the president may order their detention for twenty-four hours.\r\nIf their behavior constitutes a misdemeanor, a report is prepared on their act, and the court immediately considers it, conducts an in-person trial, and imposes the penalty immediately.",
                                    "position": 233,
                                    "article_number": "246"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 919,
                                    "body": "The president has discretionary authority to take measures deemed necessary to uncover the truth, provided they do not indicate a preconceived opinion on the case.",
                                    "position": 234,
                                    "article_number": "247"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 920,
                                    "body": "The president manages the session and discussions in the order they deem appropriate.\r\nThey may reject any request that would unnecessarily prolong the trial. They must listen to witnesses after administering the oath unless one of the parties objects to hearing some of them for legal reasons, in which case they decide to dismiss or hear them for informational purposes. They may impose a fine on a witness who refuses to attend after being duly summoned, ranging from one hundred thousand to five hundred thousand Lebanese pounds. A witness fined may request the president to exempt them if they provide an acceptable excuse.\r\nThe court president may decide to summon a witness who failed to attend a second time after being notified and previously fined. The president may decide to include documents and papers deemed necessary to reveal the truth. They read them along with the letters and documents contained in the case file.\r\nThey may refer to the initial or preliminary investigation to discuss statements made therein, seek expertise to clarify technical points, and delegate the hearing of a witness residing outside their area to the investigating judge where the witness resides or lives within their jurisdiction.",
                                    "position": 235,
                                    "article_number": "248"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 921,
                                    "body": "The trial before the Criminal Court is conducted publicly unless the president decides to conduct it privately to preserve time or public morals.\r\nTrial sessions continue day after day until the case is resolved unless the case situation necessitates postponing one of these sessions to a near date.\r\nMinutes of the trial proceedings are prepared and signed by the court panel along with the clerk.\r\nIf the civil plaintiff is absent from the trial without a legitimate excuse, they are tried in absentia, and the case proceeds in the name of public right.\r\nIf they attend one of its sessions and present their claims, the court may award them personal compensation.",
                                    "position": 236,
                                    "article_number": "249"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 922,
                                    "body": "The trial is conducted orally.\r\nThe president may decide to record it in audio or visual form.\r\nAll evidence to be relied upon for resolving the case must be subject to public discussion among the parties, and the criminal materials must be presented, and the records proving their seizure must be read.\r\nEach party may take a position on them.",
                                    "position": 237,
                                    "article_number": "250"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 923,
                                    "body": "The accused appears before the court, in the session prepared for his trial, without restraint. He is guarded by members of the security forces to prevent his escape. The president asks him about his name, surname, the names of his parents, nationality, date and place of birth, civil registry number, place of residence, type of work, educational level, and whether he is married or single, whether he has been previously convicted, the type of crime he was convicted of, and whether he has served his sentence.\r\nHe is also asked whether he has appointed a lawyer to defend him.\r\nThe trial does not proceed in the absence of the defendant's lawyer.\r\nIf the defendant has not appointed a lawyer, the president of the court may request the head of the bar association to appoint a lawyer to defend the defendant or appoint one himself.\r\nIf the defendant insists on refusing to appoint any lawyer to defend him, he will be tried in this case without a lawyer.",
                                    "position": 238,
                                    "article_number": "251"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 924,
                                    "body": "The president warns the accused of the need to listen to the facts contained in the indictment.\r\nThe president, or the counselor he appoints, reads the indictment clearly.\r\nThe personal plaintiff, the public prosecutor, or the accused may not interrupt the reading with any remarks. After the reading, the president summarizes for the accused the facts against him in the indictment, the evidence supporting them, and their legal description. Then the personal plaintiff reiterates his claim and states his demands or waives his rights in the case. After that, the public prosecutor explains the reasons for the accusation and presents a list of public witnesses. The court clerk reads the list aloud.\r\nIn accordance with Article 244, the personal plaintiff, the public prosecutor, and the accused have the right to object to hearing a witness not listed in the notified list. The court decides on the objection in the same session or the next session.\r\nThe president of the court may, at his discretion, decide to hear all the witnesses listed or some of them, and he may hear one or more witnesses not listed.",
                                    "position": 239,
                                    "article_number": "252"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 925,
                                    "body": "Before the president of the court interrogates the accused, he orders the witnesses to be taken to the room prepared for them, where some security personnel guard them and prevent them from disclosing what they will testify.\r\nAfter the witnesses are brought in, the president begins by asking the accused whether he admits to the charge against him.\r\nFollowing that, he continues the interrogation after noting the accused's ability to understand the questions posed to him and that he gives his statements freely.\r\nIf the accused refuses to answer and remains silent, he cannot be forced to speak.\r\nIf he suffers from a physical, mental, or psychological illness, or pretends to do so during interrogation, the court, on its own or at the request of the parties, seeks medical expertise to determine his condition.\r\nThe doctor assigned to examine him must record in his report what relates to the condition he is asked to diagnose.\r\nHe may not exploit his mission to compel the accused to disclose information related to the crime he is being tried for.\r\nAfter the president finishes interrogating the accused, each of the court counselors, the personal plaintiff, the public prosecutor, and the defense attorney has the right to ask him questions through the president, who has the right to reject any question he deems irrelevant or unproductive in revealing the truth.\r\nThe questions and answers are recorded in the trial minutes with sufficient accuracy and clarity.",
                                    "position": 240,
                                    "article_number": "253"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 926,
                                    "body": "If the accused is mute or deaf, the president of the court seeks the assistance of someone who can communicate with him through sign language or otherwise, after swearing him in to be truthful and honest in his work. If the deaf or mute person knows how to write, the interrogation is conducted by writing the questions and recording the answers.\r\nIf the accused does not understand Arabic, the president of the court appoints a competent translator and swears him in to perform his work truthfully and honestly.\r\nAfter the interrogation, the accused's statement is read to him clearly, and he either confirms it or makes remarks about it if necessary, which are recorded in the trial minutes.",
                                    "position": 241,
                                    "article_number": "254"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 927,
                                    "body": "After completing the interrogation of the accused, the president summons each of the witnesses to testify separately. The witness is asked about his name, the names of his parents, his place of residence or domicile, his age, and the extent of his knowledge or relationship with both the accused and the personal plaintiff, and whether he is related to either of them, and if so, the degree of relation. Then he is sworn in with the following oath:\r\n\"I swear by Almighty God to testify the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.\"\r\nAfter that, he gives his testimony orally, which the clerk records in the trial minutes.\r\nIf the witness does not take the oath in the specified form, his testimony is invalid unless the president exempts him from taking the oath after proving that he belongs to a sect that prohibits him from taking an oath.",
                                    "position": 242,
                                    "article_number": "255"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 928,
                                    "body": "The court listens for informational purposes to each of the following:\r\nA- The accused's ascendants and descendants.\r\nB- His brothers and sisters or siblings by marriage who are in the same degree.\r\nC- The accused's spouse, even after divorce.\r\nD- The personal plaintiff.\r\nE- A minor under the age of eighteen.\r\nThe court may hear the testimony of any of these individuals after swearing them in if none of the parties to the case objects.",
                                    "position": 243,
                                    "article_number": "256"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 929,
                                    "body": "The testimony of an informant who reported the crime to the competent authority without charge or reward for his information is accepted.\r\nFor this purpose, the public prosecutor must state the informant's status before hearing him.\r\nIf the informant has received a fee for his information or any reward, his testimony is not accepted if one of the parties to the case objects.\r\nThe president of the court may still listen to him for informational purposes.\r\nThe judicial officer is prohibited from mentioning the informant's name when giving his testimony.",
                                    "position": 244,
                                    "article_number": "257"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 930,
                                    "body": "No one is compelled to testify if they are bound by professional secrecy, and the subject of the testimony would reveal a secret they are entrusted to keep.\r\nIf the witness claims professional secrecy and a dispute arises over his invocation of it, the court decides the dispute in light of the law governing his profession and the nature of his work in it.",
                                    "position": 245,
                                    "article_number": "258"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 931,
                                    "body": "The court may hear a witness who appears without being summoned if his name is listed in one of the lists of witnesses scheduled to be heard.",
                                    "position": 246,
                                    "article_number": "259"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 932,
                                    "body": "A witness may not be interrupted while giving his testimony.\r\nEach of the personal plaintiff, the public prosecutor, the court counselors, and the accused may ask questions to the witness through the president.\r\nThe president of the court may decide to reject any question that does not help in revealing the truth.\r\nWhen the witness finishes giving his statement, the president asks him whether the accused present in the dock is the one he referred to in his testimony.\r\nThen the accused is asked about his position regarding the witness's statement.\r\nHe may conduct any confrontation he deems necessary between the accused and the witness to reveal the truth.\r\nThe witness's statement is read aloud, and he confirms it.\r\nThe witness may not leave the courtroom after giving his testimony unless the president permits it.",
                                    "position": 247,
                                    "article_number": "260"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 933,
                                    "body": "If a discrepancy or change appears between the witness's testimony and their statements in the preliminary or initial investigation, the president orders the court clerk to record it. Each of the personal plaintiff, the public prosecutor, and the accused may request that this discrepancy or change be recorded in the trial record. If this discrepancy or change in the witness's statement leads to the belief that the witness is lying in their testimony, the court president may order, either automatically or at the request of the aforementioned parties, to detain them. The public prosecutor is responsible for prosecuting them for perjury.\nThis prosecution is recorded in the trial record.\nSubsequently, the court president or a designated advisor investigates the witness for the alleged crime of perjury. The investigator questions the accused witness and gathers evidence on the alleged crime without expressing an opinion on the investigation conducted.\nAfter concluding the investigation, it is referred to the public prosecutor, who provides their opinion and submits it to the indictment chamber.\nThis chamber may issue a decision regarding the indictment or lack thereof.\nIf the chamber decides to indict the witness for the felony of perjury, the court will adjudicate it before or alongside the original case. The decision of the indictment chamber is subject to appeal before the Court of Cassation.",
                                    "article_number": "261"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 934,
                                    "body": "In the event of a perjury charge, as outlined in the previous article, each of the public prosecutor, the personal plaintiff, and the accused may request to postpone the session in the original case until the perjury case is resolved. The court decides on the request.\nThe court may also decide to do so on its own initiative.",
                                    "article_number": "262"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 935,
                                    "body": "After the witness gives their testimony, the court president may order, either on their own or at the request of the public prosecutor, the accused, or the personal plaintiff, to remove any desired witnesses from the courtroom and then bring one or more of those removed back to testify again separately or in the presence of others, or some of them, to conduct a confrontation between them, to present the seized criminal materials to them, and to discuss them with the accused.",
                                    "article_number": "263"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 936,
                                    "body": "The court president may, before or during the hearing of a witness, temporarily remove the accused from the courtroom to clarify matters with the witness alone or together with others. The accused's attorney remains present during the clarification of the witness.\nIf the attorney leaves, their departure does not invalidate the testimony given in their absence. However, the court may not continue the trial until the accused is returned to the courtroom and informed of the testimony given in their absence.\nIf the accused causes a disturbance or commotion in the courtroom during the hearing of a witness or during the trial, the court president warns them to stop. If they persist, the president orders their removal from the courtroom and continues the trial in their absence.\nAfter the session ends, the court president orders the accused to be informed of the proceedings that took place after their removal, and this notification is recorded in the trial record.",
                                    "article_number": "264"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 937,
                                    "body": "A witness who has been fined may object to it before the court. The court assesses the excuse provided and decides on the objection with a decision that is not subject to any form of appeal.\nThe imposed fine is executed in the same manner as judgments imposing fines.",
                                    "article_number": "265"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 938,
                                    "body": "If the court decides to refrain from repeatedly summoning a witness who could not be properly notified of the summons, it publicly reads their initial or preliminary statement and puts it up for discussion.\nIf it is found that the witness did not take an oath before giving their testimony, the court president may summon them again, administer the oath in a public session, and ask if they affirm their previous testimony. If they do, the court may then rely on it in its judgment.",
                                    "article_number": "266"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 939,
                                    "body": "If the witness is deaf or mute or does not understand Arabic, the provisions of Article 254 of this law apply to hearing their testimony.",
                                    "article_number": "267"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 940,
                                    "body": "If the court decides to move to the crime scene, it sets a date and informs all parties in the case.\nIf any party does not attend at the specified time, the inspection is conducted in their absence, and they may review it in the case file.",
                                    "article_number": "268"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 941,
                                    "body": "The court president or a designated advisor may conduct additional investigations in the case before the court and organize a report on the inspection of evidence likely to disappear that may help uncover the truth or listen to the testimony of a witness near death.\nThe investigator organizes reports documenting what they have seized or heard and sends them to the court, which puts them up for public discussion.",
                                    "article_number": "269"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 942,
                                    "body": "After the court finishes hearing the witnesses, gathering evidence, and putting it up for discussion, it gives the floor to the personal plaintiff to present their demands. Then the public prosecutor pleads and presents the evidence and arguments they see fit, concluding with their demands.\nAfterward, the defense attorney pleads on behalf of their client and also specifies their demands. Then the court listens to the final statement of the accused and decides to close the trial.",
                                    "article_number": "270"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 943,
                                    "body": "Each of the personal plaintiff, the public prosecutor, and the accused may request, after the trial is closed, to reopen it by presenting the reasons supporting their request.\nThe court decides to grant the request if it appears serious and worthy of acceptance or if it contains important reasons that warrant further discussion.",
                                    "article_number": "271"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 944,
                                    "body": "After the court president announces the closure of the trial, they and their advisors retire to the deliberation room to discuss the case, review the indictment decision, the final investigation conducted by the court, the documents and records attached to the case file, the demands of the personal plaintiff, the pleadings of the public prosecutor, the defense attorney's pleadings, and the final statement of the accused.\nThe court then deliberates on everything it has reviewed and issues its judgment on the same day or within a maximum period of ten days by unanimous or majority vote, signed by the president, advisors, and clerk.\nFailure of any court member to sign the judgment renders it void.\nIf a court member dissents from the judgment, their dissent is recorded and signed.",
                                    "article_number": "272"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 945,
                                    "body": "If the court establishes the occurrence of the act, verifies its criminal description, and finds evidence of its attribution to the accused, it convicts them and determines the penalty to be imposed.\nIt also awards compensation to the personal plaintiff if requested.\nIt orders the confiscation of seized items or their return if there is no reason for confiscation. It may also impose one or more precautionary measures and one or more subsidiary or additional penalties. The court may decide to merge the principal penalties in accordance with the provisions of Article 205 of the Penal Code.",
                                    "article_number": "273"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 946,
                                    "body": "If the court finds that the evidence available in the case file is insufficient to convict the accused, it shall declare his acquittal. If it finds that the act attributed to the accused does not constitute a crime or does not warrant punishment, it shall dismiss the proceedings against him.\r\nIf it finds that the elements of the felony attributed to the accused are incomplete and that the act constitutes a misdemeanor, it shall amend the description in the indictment decision and convict the accused of the misdemeanor and impose its penalty. The judgment of the criminal court must include the following:\r\nA - Mention of the indictment decision by which the court took cognizance of the case and reference to the public prosecution's claim before it according to the indictment decision.\r\nB - A clear summary of the personal plaintiff's demands and the pleadings of both the public prosecutor's representative and the accused's attorney, and a reference to what the accused said in his final statement.\r\nC - A clear summary of the facts derived from the indictment decision and the trial proceedings.\r\nD - A refutation of the evidence and the reasons justifying conviction or lack thereof.\r\nE - A statement of the nature of the crime, the legal description applicable to it, and the legal article that establishes it.\r\nF - Determination of the penalty following the conviction.\r\nG - Determination of the amount of personal compensation.\r\nH - Obligation to pay the case fees and its legal expenses.\r\nThe court must state in its judgment the material aggravating reasons, then the excuses, then the personal aggravating reasons, and then the mitigating reasons. The court, if a justification reason is found in the act of the accused, must verify its occurrence before deciding the absence of criminal nature of this act and thus the non-responsibility of the accused.\r\nIn all cases, it must decide on every plea it previously joined to the merits, on every defense reason, and on every request from the parties to the case.\r\nIts judgment must be sufficiently reasoned, without ambiguity, obscurity, or contradiction.",
                                    "article_number": "274"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 947,
                                    "body": "The president of the court or one of his appointed advisors shall read the judgment in a public session attended by the public prosecutor's representative, the accused, and the personal plaintiff. If the accused or the personal plaintiff is absent, the reading shall proceed in their absence.\r\nThe court clerk signs the judgment after it is read. Then a record of the judgment reading is prepared, dictated by the president, which may include a summary of the judgment.\r\nThe president, the advisors, and the clerk sign this record.\r\nIf the convicted accused causes a commotion, noise, or disturbance during the reading of the judgment, the president orders his removal from the courtroom and continues reading the judgment in his absence.\r\nIf the act caused by the convicted accused constitutes a criminal act of the misdemeanor type, the president prepares a report on it, and the court considers the misdemeanor act and immediately sentences him to the penalty of the crime. He has the right to defend himself during his trial for the misdemeanor he committed.",
                                    "article_number": "275"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 948,
                                    "body": "If the court acquits the accused or dismisses the proceedings against him, it shall order his immediate release unless he is detained for another reason.\r\nHe cannot be prosecuted again for the same act even if it is given a different description.\r\nIf it becomes apparent to the court during the trial that the accused committed a crime not included in the indictment decision, it must order his detention, if the act is of the felony type, and refer him to the public prosecution to prosecute him and refer him to the competent judicial authority.\r\nIf the act is of the misdemeanor type, a report is prepared and referred to the public prosecution.\r\nIf it becomes apparent that another person committed the act attributed to the accused, it decides, after declaring the accused's acquittal, to send the case file to the public prosecution to prosecute the suspect and refer him to the competent judicial authority.",
                                    "article_number": "276"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 949,
                                    "body": "The accused may demand, until the announcement of the end of the trial, compensation for his damage against the personal plaintiff for exceeding the limits of good faith in his lawsuit, for abusing the right to sue, or for committing an error in its practice.\r\nThe criminal court shall award him adequate compensation for his damage when it issues a judgment declaring his acquittal or dismissing the proceedings against him.",
                                    "article_number": "277"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 950,
                                    "body": "If the judgment declaring the accused's acquittal is based on lack of evidence, insufficient evidence, or doubt, the personal plaintiff may demand compensation for the damage caused by his mistake and derived from the acts mentioned in the indictment decision before the criminal court.\r\nIf he neglected to demand compensation during the trial and until its conclusion, he may still demand it according to the provisions of the previous article.",
                                    "article_number": "278"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 951,
                                    "body": "If the court considers that the act attributed to the accused does not constitute a felony but a misdemeanor or an infraction, or if the legal text is amended so that the description of the act becomes of the misdemeanor or infraction type, the court retains jurisdiction over the case and rules on it.",
                                    "article_number": "279"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 952,
                                    "body": "The personal plaintiff is sentenced to pay the case fees and its expenses when the judgment declares the accused's acquittal or dismisses the proceedings against him. He may be exempted from them wholly or partially if it is found that he acted in good faith and that the public prosecution initiated the public lawsuit.\r\nHowever, if the personal plaintiff initiated the public lawsuit with his direct complaint in which he took the status of personal plaintiff, he cannot be exempted.\r\nIf he advanced an amount of money in his personal claim, the amount exceeding the case fees and its expenses is returned to him.",
                                    "article_number": "280"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 953,
                                    "body": "The judgment issued by the criminal court is recorded in a special register of judgments.\r\nThe original judgment is kept in the case file and signed by the body that issued it at the end of its registration in the register, in addition to the clerk.",
                                    "article_number": "281"
                                }
                            ],
                            "category": "Chapter",
                            "children": [],
                            "position": 1
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 339,
                            "name": "Procedures for the Trial of a Fugitive Defendant",
                            "number": "Fourth",
                            "articles": [
                                {
                                    "id": 954,
                                    "body": "If the indictment chamber decides to indict a person, it issues an arrest warrant against them.\r\nThe public prosecution is responsible for notifying the accused with a copy of the indictment, the list of public witnesses, and the arrest warrant according to the procedures outlined in Articles 147, 148, and 149 of this law, and refers the case file to the criminal court accompanied by its indictment according to the indictment decision.\r\nIt is not permissible to prosecute contrary to what is stated in the indictment paragraph.",
                                    "position": 269,
                                    "article_number": "282"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 955,
                                    "body": "As soon as the file reaches the court, its president sets a session to consider it.\r\nA decision is issued calling the accused to surrender to the court within twenty-four hours before the trial begins. If this decision is notified and the accused refrains from surrendering, the court decides to try them in absentia, considers them a fugitive from justice, issues an order to enforce the arrest warrant issued against them, and rules to strip them of their civil rights, prevent them from disposing of their assets, and from filing any lawsuit not related to their personal status throughout the period of their escape, and appoints a custodian to manage the fugitive's assets during this period.\r\nThe custodian is not entitled to dispose of the convicted person's assets except with a special permission from the criminal court.\r\nThe public prosecution notifies the court's decision to the real estate registry office to place its indication ex officio on the real estate records of the accused.",
                                    "position": 270,
                                    "article_number": "283"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 956,
                                    "body": "The decision is notified to the accused by publishing and posting it for ten days on the door of their last residence, in the square of their town, and on the door of the courtroom.\r\nIf they have no known residence or dwelling in Lebanon, they are exceptionally notified by publishing the decision at the state's expense in two local newspapers designated by the court and in the official gazette, and by posting it on the door of the criminal court's office.",
                                    "position": 271,
                                    "article_number": "284"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 957,
                                    "body": "The fugitive accused is not entitled to be represented in the in absentia trial by an attorney. However, this attorney can present an excuse on behalf of their client after proving their representation. If the court accepts the excuse, after verifying its validity, it postpones the trial to another date.\r\nIf the accused does not surrender themselves within twenty-four hours before the new date to the court, the in absentia trial continues against them.",
                                    "position": 272,
                                    "article_number": "285"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 958,
                                    "body": "After the court decides to try the accused in absentia, the president orders the reading of the indictment decision, the notification of the decision, and the record proving its publication and posting.\r\nThen, it listens to the statements of the personal plaintiff and the pleadings of the public prosecutor's representative and concludes the trial.",
                                    "position": 273,
                                    "article_number": "286"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 959,
                                    "body": "The court, after forming its conviction, either acquits the accused or convicts them, imposes the penalty, confirms the management of their fixed and movable assets by the appointed custodian if not appointed during the trial, and insists on enforcing the arrest warrant against them.\r\nThe accused remains deprived of their civil rights from the date of the judgment until the penalty imposed is nullified by the passage of time, their surrender, or their death.",
                                    "position": 274,
                                    "article_number": "287"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 960,
                                    "body": "The public prosecution publishes a summary of the judgment in the official gazette and in one of the local daily newspapers within eight days from its issuance. A copy is posted on the door of the accused's last residence, another in the square of their town, and a third on the door of the criminal court. This summary is also notified to the real estate registry secretary. The judgment becomes enforceable the day after its publication in the official gazette.",
                                    "position": 275,
                                    "article_number": "288"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 961,
                                    "body": "As long as the fugitive convicted person's assets are managed by the custodian, their spouse, children, parents, and those they are legally obliged to support can submit a petition against the custodian to the urgent matters judge, whose center is within the jurisdiction of the criminal court that issued the judgment, requesting a monthly allowance from their assets. The judge issues a decision determining the amount of this allowance, taking into account the situation of each petitioner and their need for it.\r\nThe personal plaintiff has the right to obtain from the same urgent matters judge, against the custodian, a decision granting them a temporary advance from the compensations awarded to them. The decision is executed through the execution department on the convicted person's fixed and movable assets.",
                                    "position": 276,
                                    "article_number": "289"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 962,
                                    "body": "If the court finds that the investigations are insufficient to convict the fugitive accused, it appoints one of its members to conduct additional investigations according to the usual procedures, which are then added to the case file before issuing a judgment in the case.\r\nIf it finds that the evidence is insufficient against them, it rules to declare their innocence or to dismiss the proceedings if it sees that the act they were accused of does not constitute a crime or does not warrant punishment, or declares their non-responsibility if it is confirmed that they benefit from a justification.\r\nIt can also amend the description of the act, subject of the indictment decision, considering it a misdemeanor, and decides on the case and imposes a misdemeanor penalty.",
                                    "position": 277,
                                    "article_number": "290"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 963,
                                    "body": "The judgment convicting the fugitive accused of a felony is not subject to objection or appeal before the Court of Cassation.\r\nIf the criminal court describes the act in the indictment decision as a misdemeanor, the convicted person in absentia has the right to object to this judgment before it. The procedures followed before the misdemeanor appeal court apply to this objection.\r\nIf the court exempts the convicted person from punishment in a felony and obliges them to personal compensation, they have the right to object to the judgment regarding their obligation to compensate within fifteen days from the date of its notification.\r\nIf the civil lawsuit is not dismissed for any reason for its dismissal, following the dismissal of the public right lawsuit in the felony by the passage of the ten-year period, the person convicted of personal compensation has the right to object to the judgment, against the personal plaintiff, within fifteen days from the date of its notification.\r\nIn all cases where the amount of personal compensation awarded is objected to, the court must consider the principles of compensation assessment stipulated in Articles 133 and 134 of the Code of Obligations and Contracts.\r\nThe civil part of the in absentia judgment becomes final after completing its notification procedures according to the applicable civil procedures. The person awarded personal compensations obtains an enforceable copy according to the procedures governing the execution of civil judgments.\r\nIf the accused is declared innocent in the criminal judgment or the proceedings against them are nullified, they have the right to file a lawsuit for unjust enrichment against the executor.",
                                    "position": 278,
                                    "article_number": "291"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 964,
                                    "body": "If the fugitive convicted person surrenders themselves or is arrested before the penalty imposed is nullified by the passage of time, the court decides to declare the nullification of the in absentia judgment issued against them and all proceedings conducted from the date it took over the case.\r\nIt also decides to try the accused according to the usual procedures stipulated in Articles 236 and following of this law.\r\nThe judgment in the case is issued according to these procedures.\r\nIf it is impossible to hear some witnesses before the court, their statements in the preliminary or initial investigation are sufficient after being read publicly and put up for discussion.",
                                    "position": 279,
                                    "article_number": "292"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 965,
                                    "body": "The decision of one of the accused cannot be a reason to postpone the trial or delay the consideration of the case against the remaining accused.",
                                    "position": 280,
                                    "article_number": "293"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 966,
                                    "body": "If the convicted defendant who has fled from justice is apprehended and denies their identity, the criminal court that issued the judgment against them shall be responsible for verifying their identity.",
                                    "position": 281,
                                    "article_number": "294"
                                }
                            ],
                            "category": "Chapter",
                            "children": [],
                            "position": 1
                        }
                    ],
                    "position": 1
                },
                {
                    "id": 340,
                    "name": "Court of Cassation",
                    "number": "Fourth",
                    "articles": [],
                    "category": "Title",
                    "children": [
                        {
                            "id": 341,
                            "name": "Jurisdiction of the Court of Cassation",
                            "number": "First",
                            "articles": [
                                {
                                    "id": 967,
                                    "body": "The Court of Cassation considers the following:\r\nA - Requests for cassation of judgments issued by criminal courts and decisions issued by criminal appeal courts and the indictment authority.\r\nB - Other cassation requests within its jurisdiction under special laws.\r\nC - Requests for retrial in criminal cases.\r\nD - Requests for determination of jurisdiction.\r\nE - Requests for transfer of the case.\r\nF - Crimes of judges.",
                                    "position": 1,
                                    "article_number": "295"
                                }
                            ],
                            "category": "Chapter",
                            "children": [],
                            "position": 1
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 342,
                            "name": "Reasons for Appealing Judgments Issued in Criminal Cases",
                            "number": "Second",
                            "articles": [
                                {
                                    "id": 968,
                                    "body": "The judgments issued by the criminal courts are subject to appeal for any of the following reasons:\r\nA - The judgment was issued by a panel not formed in accordance with the provisions of the law.\r\nB - Violation of the law or error in its interpretation or application.\r\nC - Violation of jurisdiction rules.\r\nD - Omission of procedures required under penalty of nullity or breach of essential trial rules.\r\nE - Judgment on a criminal act not covered by the indictment decision or against a person not accused therein.\r\nF - Failure to decide on a plea, defense reason, or request submitted by one of the parties to the case, or judgment for more than what was requested.\r\nG - Lack of reasoning in the judgment or contradiction between its reasoning and the operative part or contradiction within the operative part itself.\r\nH - Distortion of facts or the clear content of the documents presented in the case file.\r\nI - Lack of legal basis.\r\nJ - Judgments imposing the death penalty.",
                                    "position": 282,
                                    "article_number": "296"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 969,
                                    "body": "A party in the case does not have the right to appeal the judgment for violating a legal rule established for the benefit of another.",
                                    "position": 283,
                                    "article_number": "297"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 970,
                                    "body": "Both the public prosecution and the convicted person may request the annulment of the judgment for one or more of the reasons for appeal mentioned in Article 296 of this law. If annulled at the request of either, the public case is referred to the Court of Cassation, which follows the procedures adopted by the criminal courts and concludes with a decision in the case.\r\nThe effect of the annulment request submitted by the personal plaintiff is limited to the civil aspect of the judgment or decision being appealed.\r\nIf the appealed judgment acquitted the accused or annulled the proceedings against him or declared him not responsible, he shall not be tried in detention before the Court of Cassation unless his detention is decided by a reasoned decision.\r\nThe provisions of Article 108 of this law must be observed.\r\nIf the appealed judgment convicted or found the accused guilty, and the public prosecution requested the annulment of the judgment, he shall be tried in detention, observing the provisions of Article 108 of this law.",
                                    "position": 284,
                                    "article_number": "298"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 971,
                                    "body": "The request for appeal is accepted from the person sentenced to a criminal penalty if he is detained or has served the imposed penalty.\r\nThe Court of Cassation may not release the detained convicted person before annulling the appealed judgment.",
                                    "position": 285,
                                    "article_number": "299"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 972,
                                    "body": "If the penalty stated in the appealed judgment is the one prescribed by law for the crime, the convicted person may not request its annulment due to an error in mentioning the applied legal article.",
                                    "position": 286,
                                    "article_number": "300"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 973,
                                    "body": "The personal plaintiff may appeal the judgment regarding personal compensation that is less than what was requested.",
                                    "position": 287,
                                    "article_number": "301"
                                }
                            ],
                            "category": "Chapter",
                            "children": [],
                            "position": 1
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 343,
                            "name": "Grounds for Cassation in Misdemeanor and Violation Cases",
                            "number": "Third",
                            "articles": [
                                {
                                    "id": 974,
                                    "body": "Except in the case where the judgment is issued by a panel not formed according to the law, decisions related to jurisdiction, the expiration of the public right due to the passage of time, general amnesty, or the abstention from prosecution in the adjudicated case, cassation in misdemeanor cases is only accepted for one of the reasons stipulated in Article 296 of this law, provided there is a difference in the legal description of the act between the judges of the first degree and the judges of the second degree.",
                                    "position": 288,
                                    "article_number": "302"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 975,
                                    "body": "Subject to the provisions of the previous article, only the Public Prosecution has the right to request the cassation of decisions issued by the Court of Appeal in violations regarding the legal description given to them if it considers them to have a misdemeanor description.",
                                    "position": 289,
                                    "article_number": "303"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 976,
                                    "body": "A person appealing an appellate decision does not have the right to present reasons that go beyond the content of this decision or the scope of the trial that led to its issuance.",
                                    "position": 290,
                                    "article_number": "304"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 977,
                                    "body": "The Court of Cassation may not decide to suspend the execution of a judge's decision on a misdemeanor penalty or violation unless it annuls it.",
                                    "position": 291,
                                    "article_number": "305"
                                }
                            ],
                            "category": "Chapter",
                            "children": [],
                            "position": 1
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 344,
                            "name": "Appeal of Decisions Issued by the Indictment Chamber",
                            "number": "Fourth",
                            "articles": [
                                {
                                    "id": 978,
                                    "body": "Except for decisions issued by a body not formed according to the law and decisions related to jurisdiction, the expiration of public rights due to the passage of time, general amnesty, or the prevention of prosecution due to res judicata, the final decisions of the indictment body are not subject to appeal unless there is a discrepancy in the legal description of the act between the investigating judge and the indictment body and for one of the following reasons:\r\n1 - Violation of the law or error in its interpretation or application.\r\n2 - Omission of procedures required under penalty of nullity or breach of essential rules in the investigation.\r\n3 - Distortion of facts or the clear content of documents presented in the case file.\r\n4 - Failure to decide on a plea or a defense reason or on a request submitted by one of the parties in the case.\r\n5 - Lack of legal basis or deficiency in reasoning.",
                                    "position": 292,
                                    "article_number": "306"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 979,
                                    "body": "Without adhering to the reasons for appeal mentioned in the previous article, it is permissible:\r\nA - For the private plaintiff to challenge the indictment decision rejecting their personal claim due to the absence of their capacity to sue.\r\nB - For both the private plaintiff and the public prosecution to challenge decisions preventing the trial of the defendant.",
                                    "position": 293,
                                    "article_number": "307"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 980,
                                    "body": "A defendant who is a fugitive from justice does not have the right to challenge the indictment decision before the Court of Cassation unless they surrender themselves.",
                                    "position": 294,
                                    "article_number": "308"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 981,
                                    "body": "If the Court of Cassation rejects the appeal request, it shall order the confiscation of the security deposit, and it may impose a fine ranging between one hundred thousand and five hundred thousand Lebanese pounds if it finds that the applicant has abused their right to litigation.",
                                    "position": 295,
                                    "article_number": "309"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 982,
                                    "body": "When the indictment decision becomes final and conclusive, ordering the referral of the defendant to the Criminal Court, it confers jurisdiction upon it.",
                                    "position": 296,
                                    "article_number": "310"
                                }
                            ],
                            "category": "Chapter",
                            "children": [],
                            "position": 1
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 345,
                            "name": "Procedures and Conditions Related to the Request for Cassation",
                            "number": "Fifth",
                            "articles": [
                                {
                                    "id": 983,
                                    "body": "In all cases, it is not permissible to request the appeal of preliminary or prior decisions to the final decision or judgment except after its issuance and along with it. An exception is made for decisions or judgments that resolve one or more of the defenses stipulated in Article 73 of this law.\r\n\r\nThe Criminal Court of Cassation must verify whether the decision or judgment being appealed has the potential to halt the investigation or trial and must make a decision accordingly.",
                                    "position": 297,
                                    "article_number": "311"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 984,
                                    "body": "A person who was not a party to a lawsuit does not have the right to request the annulment of the judgment or decision issued in it. The appellant must have standing and interest in their request, under penalty of non-acceptance.",
                                    "position": 298,
                                    "article_number": "312"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 985,
                                    "body": "The right to request an appeal belongs to the Public Prosecution at the Court of Cassation, the Public Prosecution at the Court of Appeal, the Financial Public Prosecution, the private plaintiff, the convicted person, the person liable for money, and the guarantor.\r\nThe appeal by the Public Prosecution must focus on the part of the judgment related to the public lawsuit, while the appeal by the convicted person must address the penalties, personal compensations, and expenses imposed on them. The appeal by the private plaintiff must be limited to the part of the judgment related to the civil lawsuit. Both the person liable for money and the guarantor can appeal the judgment or decision that obliges them to personal compensations.",
                                    "position": 299,
                                    "article_number": "313"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 986,
                                    "body": "If one of the convicted persons requests the annulment of the judgment or decision without the other parties, the Court of Cassation may not increase the penalty imposed on them or the compensations adjudged against them.",
                                    "position": 300,
                                    "article_number": "314"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 987,
                                    "body": "Each party in the lawsuit can limit their appeal to a specific aspect of the judgment or decision independent of its other aspects.",
                                    "position": 301,
                                    "article_number": "315"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 988,
                                    "body": "Each of the convicted person, the private plaintiff, the person liable for money, and the guarantor can request the annulment of the in-person judgment issued by the Criminal Court and the in-person decision issued by the Misdemeanor Appeal Court within fifteen days from the date of its issuance.\r\nThe Financial or Appellate Public Prosecution can request the annulment of either the judgment or the in-person decision within a month from the date of its issuance.\r\nThe Public Prosecution at the Court of Cassation can request its annulment within two months from the date of its issuance. The annulment of the in-absentia judgment issued against a fugitive from justice is not accepted.\r\nEach party in the lawsuit has the right to request the annulment of the decision issued by the Misdemeanor Appeal Court as a result of the objection within the time limits specified in the first and second paragraphs of this article.\r\nThe time limit applies to each of the convicted person, the private plaintiff, the person liable for money, and the guarantor from the date of notification of the judgment issued as a result of the objection if it was not in-person.\r\nIt applies to both the Appellate Public Prosecution and the Public Prosecution at the Court of Cassation from the date of its issuance.",
                                    "position": 302,
                                    "article_number": "316"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 989,
                                    "body": "The appeal request is submitted to the registry of the Court of Cassation or to the registry of the court that issued the contested judgment. If submitted to the latter, it must refer it and the case file to its Public Prosecution within five days at most from the date of submission, and the Public Prosecution must immediately deposit it with the Public Prosecution at the Court of Cassation for referral to the Court of Cassation.\r\nIf the appeal request is submitted directly to the Court of Cassation, it requests the file to be deposited through the Public Prosecution at the Court of Cassation.",
                                    "position": 303,
                                    "article_number": "317"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 990,
                                    "body": "Subject to the time limit stipulated in Article 316 of this law, the appeal request must meet the following conditions collectively, under penalty of formal rejection:\r\nA - It must include the names of the litigants, the name of the court that issued the judgment, the judgment to be annulled, and the reasons for the appeal.\r\nB - It must be signed by an appellate lawyer and accompanied by their power of attorney or a certified copy thereof, a certified copy of the judgment or decision to be appealed exempt from proportional fees, and a receipt for depositing a security of two hundred thousand Lebanese pounds in the treasury.\r\nThe Public Prosecution is exempt from presenting a copy of the contested judgment with its appeal and from paying the security fee and judicial fees.",
                                    "position": 304,
                                    "article_number": "318"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 991,
                                    "body": "The appellant may submit, within five days after the expiration of the appeal period, a memorandum detailing the reasons for the appeal they have stated. They are not entitled to include new reasons.\r\nThe appellant is considered to have chosen the office of their agent as their chosen place of residence. Any notification made to this office is effective if the formal procedures are observed. The appeal request is recorded in a special register.\r\nEach party in the lawsuit can review it and obtain a certified copy of it.\r\nThe security is refunded to the applicant if their request is accepted or if they withdraw it before it is decided upon, and it is confiscated for the benefit of the treasury if the appeal request is rejected.\r\nThe convicted person or the private plaintiff is exempt from the security fee in criminal cases.\r\nThey are also exempt in misdemeanor cases if they present a certificate of indigence.\r\nThe Public Prosecution is exempt from paying all fees and expenses for submitting the appeal request.",
                                    "position": 305,
                                    "article_number": "319"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 992,
                                    "body": "The party against whom the appeal is requested must be notified with a copy of the request and its attachments and a copy of the explanatory memorandum within three days from the date of submission of each, and they have the right to submit their observations and requests within ten days from the date of notification.",
                                    "position": 306,
                                    "article_number": "320"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 993,
                                    "body": "The court examines the appeal request and the case file. If it finds the request submitted within the legal time limit and meeting all formal conditions, it accepts it in form. Then it studies the reasons for the appeal contained therein.\r\nIf the contested decision is annulled, it decides to conduct the trial anew in a public session to consider the case and rule on its merits.\r\nThe trial follows the procedures adopted by the court that issued the contested judgment.\r\nIt issues its decision in the case.\r\nIf the appeal is rejected, it decides to uphold the judgment or decision contested and confiscates the security amount, obliging the applicant to a fine ranging between two hundred thousand and one million Lebanese pounds if it finds that they have abused their right to litigation.",
                                    "position": 307,
                                    "article_number": "321"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 994,
                                    "body": "If the private plaintiff submits the appeal request alone, it results in the reopening of the civil case alone before the court.\r\nThe Court of Cassation may not reduce the compensations adjudged.",
                                    "position": 308,
                                    "article_number": "322"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 995,
                                    "body": "If the appeal request is submitted by one of the convicted persons in the same crime, and the Court of Cassation accepts their appeal in form and substance, and considers that the elements of the crime in the act adjudged by the contested judgment are not present, all the convicted persons benefit from the result of the annulled judgment. In this case, the Public Prosecution at the Court of Cassation retrieves the summary of the judgment issued against each of these persons.",
                                    "position": 309,
                                    "article_number": "323"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 996,
                                    "body": "After annulling the contested judgment or decision, the Court of Cassation applies the provisions of Articles 276 and 277 of this law when the conditions stipulated in either of them are met.",
                                    "position": 310,
                                    "article_number": "324"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 997,
                                    "body": "If the Court of Cassation decides to reject the appeal request in form or substance, the court clerk prepares a summary of this decision, signed by the court president, and refers it within three days from the date of its issuance to the Public Prosecution at the Court of Cassation, which deposits it with the Appellate Public Prosecution at the court that issued the contested judgment for execution.",
                                    "position": 311,
                                    "article_number": "325"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 998,
                                    "body": "Subject to the provisions related to retrial or those mentioned in Articles 741 and following of the Code of Civil Procedure, the decisions of the Court of Cassation are not subject to any means of review.",
                                    "position": 312,
                                    "article_number": "326"
                                }
                            ],
                            "category": "Chapter",
                            "children": [],
                            "position": 1
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 346,
                            "name": "Appeal in the Interest of the Law",
                            "number": "Sixth",
                            "articles": [
                                {
                                    "id": 999,
                                    "body": "If a judgment is issued by the Criminal Court or a decision by the Court of Appeal and each becomes final due to the expiration of the appeal period, the Public Prosecutor at the Court of Cassation may, either ex officio or upon the request of the Minister of Justice, request its annulment for the benefit of the law only within a period of one year from its issuance.\r\nIf the Court of Cassation decides to annul the contested judgment or decision, the convicted person benefits from this annulment without being harmed by it.\r\nThe judgment remains valid in all cases for the benefit of the personal plaintiff.",
                                    "position": 1,
                                    "article_number": "327"
                                }
                            ],
                            "category": "Chapter",
                            "children": [],
                            "position": 1
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 347,
                            "name": "Retrial",
                            "number": "Seventh",
                            "articles": [
                                {
                                    "id": 1000,
                                    "body": "The Court of Cassation is the competent authority to consider requests for retrial.\r\n- A request for retrial may be made in criminal and misdemeanor cases, regardless of the court that issued the judgment or the penalty imposed, in the following cases:\r\nA - If a person is convicted of murder and sufficient evidence later emerges that the alleged victim is still alive.\r\nB - If a person is convicted of a felony or misdemeanor and another person is later convicted of the same crime and in the same capacity, provided that this results in evidence of the innocence of one of the convicted persons.\r\nC - If a person is convicted based on the testimony of another person, which is later proven to be false by a final judgment.\r\nD - If a new act occurs or new documents appear after the judgment that were unknown during the trial and could constitute evidence of the convicted person's innocence.\r\nThe lapse of the penalty due to the passage of time does not prevent the hearing of a retrial request.",
                                    "position": 313,
                                    "article_number": "328-معدلة"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 1001,
                                    "body": "- The convicted person submits the retrial request to the criminal chamber of the Court of Cassation or to the Judicial Council, each according to its jurisdiction, through the Public Prosecutor of Cassation, within one year from the day they became aware of the reason for the retrial, under penalty of rejection of the request.\r\n- It can be submitted by their legal representative if they are incapacitated or if their absence is established by a judicial ruling, or by one of their heirs or one of the legatees in case of their death.\r\n- The request must be accompanied by a certified true copy exempt from fees of the judgment for which retrial is requested, the evidence invoked, a copy of the power of attorney of the lawyer who signed the request, and a financial receipt for a deposit of two hundred thousand Lebanese pounds.\r\n- The Public Prosecutor of Cassation refers the request to the competent criminal chamber of the Court of Cassation or to the Judicial Council, accompanied by their opinion, within a week.",
                                    "position": 314,
                                    "article_number": "329-معدلة"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 1002,
                                    "body": "When the Court of Cassation accepts the retrial request in form, it examines the merits of the case.\r\nIt may conduct additional investigations if necessary.",
                                    "position": 315,
                                    "article_number": "330"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 1003,
                                    "body": "If the court considering the retrial request annuls the contested judgment against one of the living convicted persons due to the removal of the criminal nature of the act for which they were convicted or because the convicted person is exempt from punishment, it suffices with this annulment.\r\nIf the annulment is based on the removal of the criminal nature of the act, all convicted persons benefit from it.",
                                    "position": 316,
                                    "article_number": "331"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 1004,
                                    "body": "If the retrial request is submitted after the death of the convicted person or their loss of capacity, by one of the persons mentioned in Article 329 of this law, the court considers the request.\r\nIf it annuls the contested judgment and declares the innocence of the convicted person or annuls the proceedings against them, it orders the publication of its judgment on the court's notice board, at the place of the crime, at the residence of the convicted person, in the official gazette, and in two local daily newspapers.\r\nThe state bears the costs of publication.",
                                    "position": 317,
                                    "article_number": "332"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 1005,
                                    "body": "If the convicted person is declared innocent or the proceedings against them are annulled, the judgment has retroactive effect, canceling all effects of the previous judgment except for rights acquired in good faith.\r\nThe court may, upon the request of the retrial applicant, award compensation for the damage suffered from the previous judgment.\r\nIf the convicted person has died, the right to request compensation passes to their heirs or legatees.\r\nThe court assesses compensation according to the rules stipulated in the Code of Obligations and Contracts.\r\nThe state bears the awarded compensation. It may seek recourse against anyone who was the cause of the previous judgment.",
                                    "position": 318,
                                    "article_number": "333"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 1006,
                                    "body": "The retrial applicant advances the costs of the case until a decision is made on their request.\r\nSubsequent costs are paid by the state.",
                                    "position": 319,
                                    "article_number": "334"
                                }
                            ],
                            "category": "Chapter",
                            "children": [],
                            "position": 1
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 348,
                            "name": "Request for Determination of Jurisdiction",
                            "number": "Eighth",
                            "articles": [
                                {
                                    "id": 1007,
                                    "body": "The Criminal Chamber of the Court of Cassation is responsible for appointing the competent authority in case of a dispute over jurisdiction between judicial authorities.\r\nIf a crime occurs and two investigators begin the investigation or two courts start reviewing it after each authority considers itself competent to examine it, or if each of the investigators or courts decides it is not competent to examine it, or if a court decides it is not competent to examine a case referred to it by a decision issued by the investigating judge or the indictment body, and the dispute over jurisdiction results in a halt to the course of justice due to the finalization of contradictory decisions in the same case, this dispute is resolved by appointing the competent authority.\r\nThe provisions of this article apply if there is a dispute between an ordinary court and a special court.",
                                    "position": 320,
                                    "article_number": "335"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 1008,
                                    "body": "The public prosecution, the personal plaintiff, and the defendant each have the right to request the appointment of the authority by submitting a petition to the Court of Cassation, which requests the public prosecution to deposit copies of the documents related to the case with the judicial authorities involved in the dispute.\r\nEach party in the case must be notified with a copy of the request for the appointment of the authority, and each has the right to respond within ten days of being notified.",
                                    "position": 321,
                                    "article_number": "336"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 1009,
                                    "body": "When the judicial authorities involved in the dispute are notified of the request for the appointment of the authority, they must refrain from issuing a final decision in the case.\r\nHowever, temporary measures and investigations can continue until the decision appointing the competent authority is issued.",
                                    "position": 322,
                                    "article_number": "337"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 1010,
                                    "body": "The Criminal Chamber of the Court of Cassation reviews the request for the appointment of the authority after the expiration of the ten-day period.\r\nIt makes a decision in the deliberation chamber to appoint the competent judicial authority within a period not exceeding one month.\r\nIt may simultaneously annul the procedures and actions taken by the judicial authority that has been removed from the case. Its decision is not subject to any form of review. The judicial authorities involved in the dispute must comply with the decision.",
                                    "position": 323,
                                    "article_number": "338"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 1011,
                                    "body": "If the personal plaintiff or the defendant is not justified in their request, they shall be fined an amount ranging between two hundred thousand and one million Lebanese pounds and compensation to their opponent if requested.",
                                    "position": 324,
                                    "article_number": "339"
                                }
                            ],
                            "category": "Chapter",
                            "children": [],
                            "position": 1
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 349,
                            "name": "Request for Transfer of the Case",
                            "number": "Ninth",
                            "articles": [
                                {
                                    "id": 1012,
                                    "body": "One of the criminal chambers of the Court of Cassation is responsible for deciding on the request to transfer a case from one judicial authority to another.\r\nIt decides to remove the jurisdiction of a judicial authority, in investigation or judgment, from the case and refers it to another authority of the same level to continue its examination, either due to the inability to form the originally competent authority, to halt the investigation or trial, to preserve public safety, to ensure the proper administration of justice, or for a reason of legitimate suspicion.\r\nOnly the Public Prosecutor at the Court of Cassation can request the transfer of the case for the reason of preserving public safety if the judicial authority from which the case is requested to be removed is one of the criminal chambers of the Court of Cassation, and the General Assembly of the Court of Cassation decides on the request.\r\nThe Public Prosecutor at the Court of Cassation can request the transfer of the case on his own initiative or based on a request from the Appellate Public Prosecutor, the Financial Public Prosecutor, the private plaintiff, the defendant, or the Minister of Justice for the reasons mentioned in the first paragraph.\r\nThe request for transfer must be notified to all parties to the case. Each of them can respond to it within ten days of being notified.\r\nSubmitting the request does not halt the proceedings in the case unless the Court of Cassation decides otherwise.",
                                    "position": 325,
                                    "article_number": "340"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 1013,
                                    "body": "If two investigating judges in the same district are handling related crimes, the first investigating judge can appoint one of them to continue the investigation.\r\nIf the investigating judges belong to different districts, the competent criminal chamber at the Court of Cassation, upon the request of the Public Prosecutor at the Court of Cassation, appoints the investigating judge who will continue to examine the case.",
                                    "position": 326,
                                    "article_number": "341"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 1014,
                                    "body": "Every decision issued by the Court of Cassation to transfer a case is notified to the parties involved in the case through the Public Prosecutor at the Court of Cassation.\r\nIts decision is not subject to any form of review.\r\nIf the Court of Cassation decides to reject the request, its decision does not prevent the submission of another request for a reason related to facts that emerged after the date of the first request.",
                                    "position": 327,
                                    "article_number": "342"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 1015,
                                    "body": "If the private plaintiff or the defendant submits a request to transfer the case, and the Court of Cassation decides to reject it, it may impose a fine on the applicant ranging between two hundred thousand and one million Lebanese pounds and may award compensation to the opponent if requested.\r\nIn all these cases, the decision of the Court of Cassation is not subject to any form of review.",
                                    "position": 328,
                                    "article_number": "343"
                                }
                            ],
                            "category": "Chapter",
                            "children": [],
                            "position": 1
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 350,
                            "name": "Crimes of Judges",
                            "number": "Tenth",
                            "articles": [
                                {
                                    "id": 1016,
                                    "body": "The Court of Cassation is competent to hear crimes committed by judges, whether outside their functions or arising from or related to them.",
                                    "position": 329,
                                    "article_number": "344"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 1017,
                                    "body": "If a judge of the first instance courts, an investigating judge, a public prosecutor at the appellate, financial, or military public prosecution, a counselor of the appellate courts, a counselor of the administrative courts or the Court of Audit, or an assistant counselor at the State Council commits a misdemeanor outside their function, the Public Prosecutor at the Court of Cassation prosecutes them automatically or based on a complaint from the aggrieved party.\r\nThe case is brought before the criminal chamber of the Court of Cassation.",
                                    "position": 330,
                                    "article_number": "345"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 1018,
                                    "body": "If the misdemeanor is attributed to a president of the appellate chambers, the public prosecutor at the Court of Appeal, the financial public prosecutor, the government commissioner, a judge of the Court of Cassation, a member of its public prosecution, or the first investigating judge, the Public Prosecutor at the Court of Cassation prosecutes them automatically or based on a complaint from the aggrieved party, and the case is brought before the General Assembly of the Court of Cassation.",
                                    "position": 331,
                                    "article_number": "346"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 1019,
                                    "body": "If the act attributed to the judge, regardless of their rank, is a felony, the First President of the Court of Cassation appoints a judge of at least the same rank as the accused to investigate them. The Public Prosecutor at the Court of Cassation assumes the role of public prosecution and exercises the public action.",
                                    "position": 332,
                                    "article_number": "347"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 1020,
                                    "body": "If it is necessary to detain the judge accused of a felony, the judge assigned to investigate them issues the arrest warrant.\r\nHowever, it is not enforceable except after the approval of the First President of the Court of Cassation.\r\nThe judge is detained in a special place designated by the Public Prosecutor at the Court of Cassation.",
                                    "position": 333,
                                    "article_number": "348"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 1021,
                                    "body": "The judge assigned to investigate must seek the opinion of the Public Prosecutor at the Court of Cassation in all cases where the law requires the investigating judge to seek the opinion of the appellate public prosecution. The judge assigned to investigate may replace the detention of the accused judge with monitoring measures that restrict their freedom of movement or travel.\r\nIf they violate any of these measures or if the investigator finds them ineffective, they issue an arrest warrant in accordance with the provisions of Article 348 of this law.\r\nThe judge assigned to investigate applies the procedures followed by the investigating judge in criminal cases.\r\nThe decisions of the judge assigned to investigate are appealed before the body stipulated in Article 350 of this law according to the procedures followed in appealing the decisions of the investigating judge.",
                                    "position": 334,
                                    "article_number": "349"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 1022,
                                    "body": "Investigations are referred to a body composed of three judges of at least the same rank as the accused judge.\r\nThey are appointed by the Supreme Judicial Council.\r\nThe body is chaired by the highest-ranking judge or by someone appointed by the First President of the Court of Cassation to chair it.\r\nThe body assumes the functions of the indictment body. In its decision, it refers the accused judge to one of the criminal chambers of the Court of Cassation if they are among the judges mentioned in Article 345 of this law, and to the General Assembly of the Court of Cassation if they are among the judges mentioned in Article 346 of this law.\r\nIf the body finds that the evidence is insufficient for indictment or that the criminal elements are not available, it decides to dismiss the case against the accused judge.\r\nAll decisions issued by the body are not subject to any form of review.",
                                    "position": 335,
                                    "article_number": "350"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 1023,
                                    "body": "In crimes committed by judges arising from their functions, the provisions of Articles 344 to 350 inclusive of this law apply.\r\nAll these provisions apply to judges of the State Council, judges of the Court of Audit, and retired judges in honorary positions.",
                                    "position": 336,
                                    "article_number": "351"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 1024,
                                    "body": "The aggrieved party from a criminal act attributed to a judge may request compensation following the public action. They are not entitled to file a direct claim to initiate a public right action.\r\nIf the criminal act committed is not arising from the function or related to it, the claim for compensation is filed against the accused judge.\r\nHowever, if it arises from the function or is related to it, the aggrieved party may file their claim against the state and the judge or against either of them.",
                                    "position": 337,
                                    "article_number": "352"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 1025,
                                    "body": "If the judge accused of a misdemeanor or felony, whether arising from the function or outside it, has a partner, accomplice, instigator, or concealer, the prosecution, investigation, and trial include them.\r\nIf the investigation does not lead to identifying the partner, accomplice, instigator, or concealer, or if their prosecution is impossible or delayed, this does not affect the prosecution of the judge and the consideration of their case.",
                                    "position": 338,
                                    "article_number": "353"
                                },
                                {
                                    "id": 1026,
                                    "body": "If any of the President of the Supreme Judicial Council, the President of the State Council, the Public Prosecutor at the Court of Cassation, the President of the Court of Audit, or the President of the Judicial Inspection Commission commits a crime, whether a misdemeanor or felony, outside their function or during or related to it, they are tried before a judicial body composed of five judges appointed by a decree issued by the Council of Ministers upon the proposal of the Minister of Justice.\r\nThe members of the body are selected from active judges or retired judges in honorary positions, provided that none of them is below the seventeenth rank.\r\nThe Public Prosecutor at the Court of Cassation personally undertakes the prosecution unless they are among those who committed or contributed to the crime, in which case a judge of no less than the seventeenth rank is appointed by a decree issued by the Council of Ministers to perform the duties of the Public Prosecutor at the Court of Cassation for the prosecution of the crime only.\r\nThe Minister of Justice, after the approval of the Supreme Judicial Council, appoints the judge who will be assigned to investigate the crime from a rank not less than that of the judge referred to them.\r\nThe procedures stipulated in Articles 345 and following are applied in the prosecution and trial of those previously mentioned.\r\nThe head of the appointed judicial body assumes the functions of the First President of the Court of Cassation in the field of approving the detention of the accused judge.",
                                    "position": 339,
                                    "article_number": "354"
                                }
                            ],
                            "category": "Chapter",
                            "children": [],
                            "position": 1
                        }
                    ],
                    "position": 1
                },
                {
                    "id": 351,
                    "name": "The Judicial Council",
                    "number": "Fifth",
                    "articles": [
                        {
                            "id": 1027,
                            "body": "Cases are referred to the Judicial Council based on a decree issued by the Council of Ministers.",
                            "position": 340,
                            "article_number": "355"
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 1028,
                            "body": "The Judicial Council considers the following crimes:\r\nA - Crimes stipulated in Articles 270 and following, up to and including Article 336 of the Penal Code.\r\nB - Crimes stipulated in the Law of 11\/01\/1958.\r\nC - All crimes resulting from arms and equipment deals made or to be made by the Ministry of National Defense, and crimes related to or derived from them, especially those stipulated in Articles 351 to 366 inclusive of the Penal Code, and in Articles 376, 377, and 378 thereof, and in Articles 453 to 472 inclusive thereof, and in Articles 138 and 141 of the Military Judiciary Law.\r\nCases related to these crimes, which are under consideration before the military and ordinary judiciary, are referred to the Judicial Council, which has jurisdiction over both civilians and military personnel, in execution of the referral decree.",
                            "position": 341,
                            "article_number": "356"
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 1029,
                            "body": "The Judicial Council is composed of the First President of the Court of Cassation as President and four judges from the Court of Cassation as members, appointed by a decree issued by the Council of Ministers based on the proposal of the Minister of Justice and the approval of the Higher Judicial Council.\r\nThe decree appoints one or more additional judges to replace the original in case of death, recusal, dismissal, or end of service.\r\nThe Public Prosecution at the Judicial Council is represented by the Public Prosecutor at the Court of Cassation or his delegate from his assistants.",
                            "position": 342,
                            "article_number": "357"
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 1030,
                            "body": "If the First President of the Court of Cassation is unable to preside over the Council, the highest-ranking appointed member assumes the presidency.",
                            "position": 343,
                            "article_number": "358"
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 1031,
                            "body": "The Judicial Council convenes at the Palace of Justice in Beirut or at the crime scene when necessary, or at any other location determined by its President if it is impossible to convene at the Palace of Justice in Beirut.",
                            "position": 344,
                            "article_number": "359"
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 1032,
                            "body": "The Public Prosecutor at the Court of Cassation or his delegate from the public prosecutors at the Court of Cassation undertakes the tasks of initiating and exercising the public prosecution.\r\nAn investigating judge is appointed by the Minister of Justice based on the approval of the Higher Judicial Council.",
                            "position": 345,
                            "article_number": "360"
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 1033,
                            "body": "The Public Prosecutor at the Court of Cassation files charges with the judicial investigator regarding the crime and refers the investigation file to him.",
                            "position": 346,
                            "article_number": "361"
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 1034,
                            "body": "The judicial investigator can issue all necessary warrants for the investigation without a request from the Public Prosecution.\r\nHis decisions in this regard are not subject to any form of review.\r\nHe takes charge of the case objectively.\r\nIf the investigation reveals the involvement of a suspect in the crime, he interrogates him as a defendant, even if his name was not included among those charged by the Public Prosecution. The Public Prosecution can later charge a person it omitted in its original charge, and the investigator must interrogate him as a defendant.",
                            "position": 347,
                            "article_number": "362"
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 1035,
                            "body": "Subject to the provisions of the previous article, the judicial investigator applies the procedures followed before the investigating judge, except for the detention period stipulated in Article 108 of this law.\r\nThe Public Prosecutor at the Court of Cassation can review the case file and present any opinion or request. The injured party can file a personal lawsuit following the public lawsuit.",
                            "position": 348,
                            "article_number": "363"
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 1036,
                            "body": "After the investigations are completed, the Public Prosecution at the Court of Cassation presents its opinion on the merits.\r\nThe judicial investigator decides, after reviewing the investigations and case papers, either to dismiss the case against the defendant or to indict and refer him to the Judicial Council. The indictment decision issued by the judicial investigator follows the procedures that organize the drafting of the indictment by the Indictment Chamber.\r\nThe judicial investigator must issue an arrest warrant against the accused.\r\nIf he fails to issue it, he must, upon the request of the Public Prosecutor at the Court of Cassation, issue it even after relinquishing the case.\r\nIf he has died or is unable to do so, the President of the Judicial Council must issue an arrest warrant against the accused at the start of his trial.",
                            "position": 349,
                            "article_number": "364"
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 1037,
                            "body": "The Public Prosecution at the Court of Cassation notifies each of the accused, five days before the session date, with a copy of the indictment decision and the list of public prosecution witnesses. The accused notify the Public Prosecutor at the Court of Cassation, five days before the session date, with the list of defense witnesses.\r\nThe personal plaintiff can submit a list of his witnesses within the same period, a copy of which is notified to both the Public Prosecution at the Court of Cassation and the accused five days before the session date.",
                            "position": 350,
                            "article_number": "365"
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 1038,
                            "body": "The trial before the Judicial Council, whether in presence or in absentia, is conducted according to the trial procedures of the Criminal Court.\r\nThe Council issues its judgment according to the same procedures.\r\nThe judgments of the Judicial Council are not subject to any ordinary or extraordinary means of review, except for objection and retrial.\r\nThe Judicial Council is the competent authority to consider requests for retrial of judgments issued by it.",
                            "position": 351,
                            "article_number": "366-معدلة"
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 1039,
                            "body": "The Judicial Council, upon the request of the Public Prosecution at the Court of Cassation or on its own initiative, can conduct an additional investigation into the case with its full panel or through a member it appoints for this purpose.",
                            "position": 352,
                            "article_number": "367"
                        }
                    ],
                    "category": "Title",
                    "children": [],
                    "position": 1
                }
            ],
            "position": 12
        },
        {
            "id": 352,
            "name": "Objection Matters",
            "number": "Seventh",
            "articles": [
                {
                    "id": 1040,
                    "body": "The jurisdiction of the criminal judge handling the public lawsuit includes deciding on any plea raised before him unless it constitutes an incidental issue or the law provides otherwise.",
                    "position": 353,
                    "article_number": "368"
                },
                {
                    "id": 1041,
                    "body": "The following are considered pending incidental issues:\r\nA - Real estate ownership cases and other real property rights.\r\nB - Nationality cases.\r\nC - Personal status cases except for age determination.\r\nD - Administrative cases.\r\nE - Civil cases that affect the determination of the elements of the alleged crime, provided they are pending before the civil authority before the initiation of the public lawsuit.\r\nF - Criminal cases on which the determination of the elements of the crime depends.",
                    "position": 354,
                    "article_number": "369"
                },
                {
                    "id": 1042,
                    "body": "The criminal judge, when presented with an incidental issue, must ensure before postponing the case he is handling that it is serious and that resolving it is necessary and essential for deciding the criminal case. If the criminal judge decides to accept the plea of the incidental issue, he sets a deadline for referring the matter to the competent court.\r\nIf the party raising the plea complies with the specified deadline, the criminal judge postpones the case until the incidental issue is resolved.\r\nIf not, the case proceeds.\r\nPostponing the case does not prevent the criminal judge from taking necessary or urgent measures and investigations.",
                    "position": 355,
                    "article_number": "370"
                }
            ],
            "category": "Section",
            "children": [],
            "position": 12
        },
        {
            "id": 353,
            "name": "Repeated - On Protection Procedures in the Crime of Human Trafficking",
            "number": "Seventh",
            "articles": [
                {
                    "id": 1043,
                    "body": "The investigating judge may decide to hear the testimony of a person who possesses information, as a witness, without including the identity of the person being heard in the record, if the following two conditions are met:\r\n1 - The crime of human trafficking, which is the subject of the investigation, is punishable by criminal penalties of no less than five years of imprisonment.\r\n2 - There is a fear that providing information about the crime would pose a threat to the life or safety of the person being heard, their family, or one of their relatives.\r\nThe decision must be justified and include the factual and material reasons on which it was based.\r\nThe identity and address of the person are recorded in a special record, not included in the case file, and deposited and kept with the Attorney General at the Court of Cassation.",
                    "position": 356,
                    "article_number": "370-(2)"
                },
                {
                    "id": 1044,
                    "body": "The defendant may request the judge handling the case to disclose the identity of the person being heard according to the provisions of the previous article, if they consider this procedure essential for exercising the rights of defense.\r\nThe judge decides, if it is found that the conditions of the request are met, either to disclose the identity provided the concerned person agrees to it or to annul the record organized according to the provisions of Article 370 (2).",
                    "position": 357,
                    "article_number": "370-(3)"
                },
                {
                    "id": 1045,
                    "body": "The defendant may request to confront the person being heard according to the provisions of Article 370 (2), and in this case, it is up to the judge to decide to use techniques that make the voice of this person unidentifiable.\r\nThe details of the application of the provisions of this article are determined by a decree issued by the Council of Ministers based on a proposal by the Minister of Justice.\r\nRelated text: (Determining the details of the application of the provisions of paragraph 4 of Article 370 of the Code of Criminal Procedure)",
                    "position": 358,
                    "article_number": "370-(4)"
                },
                {
                    "id": 1046,
                    "body": "Conviction cannot be based solely on the testimony of the person being heard according to the provisions of Article 370 (2).",
                    "position": 359,
                    "article_number": "370-(5)"
                },
                {
                    "id": 1047,
                    "body": "Anyone who discloses information about the protection measures stipulated in this section shall be punished with imprisonment from two to three years and a fine from twenty million to thirty million Lebanese pounds.",
                    "position": 360,
                    "article_number": "370-(6)"
                }
            ],
            "category": "Section",
            "children": [],
            "position": 13
        },
        {
            "id": 354,
            "name": "Forgery Lawsuit",
            "number": "Eighth",
            "articles": [],
            "category": "Section",
            "children": [
                {
                    "id": 355,
                    "name": "Original Forgery Lawsuit",
                    "number": "One",
                    "articles": [
                        {
                            "id": 1048,
                            "body": "When the public prosecutor becomes aware of the existence of a document in one of the official departments, suspected of being forged, he shall either proceed himself or delegate one of his assistants to carry out the necessary procedures to examine it and verify its forgery.\r\nHe may also order the transfer of the suspected documents to his department.\r\nThe perpetrator of the forgery and his accomplices shall be summoned before the investigating judge.",
                            "position": 361,
                            "article_number": "371"
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 1049,
                            "body": "When the investigating judge takes charge of the case, he instructs his clerk to prepare a detailed report describing the document suspected of forgery. The report is signed by the investigating judge and the clerk, and they also sign the document with the phrase \"Do not alter.\"\r\nThe suspected document and the report are kept in the investigation department.",
                            "position": 362,
                            "article_number": "372"
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 1050,
                            "body": "If the document alleged to be forged is in one of the official departments, it shall be signed by the responsible head of the department before being transferred to the investigation department.\r\nHe is obliged to deliver it immediately upon being notified of the investigating judge's decision.\r\nIf he refuses, the investigating judge issues a decision to bring him along with the document.\r\nIf the investigating judge finds no legitimate reason for his refusal to deliver the document, he shall be fined an amount ranging between two hundred thousand and one million Lebanese pounds.\r\nThe provisions of this article apply to any ordinary person who possesses the document suspected of forgery.",
                            "position": 363,
                            "article_number": "373"
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 1051,
                            "body": "When the official document is brought, a copy identical to it is left with the person who deposited it, certified by the investigating judge and his clerk.\r\nIf the document is deposited with an official employee, the identical copy serves as the original until it is returned to him.\r\nThis employee may issue copies of the certified copy, indicating that the original is deposited with the investigating judge for the purpose of verifying its forgery.\r\nIf the document is a page in a register that cannot be removed, the investigating judge may decide to bring the register to his department.",
                            "position": 364,
                            "article_number": "374"
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 1052,
                            "body": "It is permissible to allege forgery of documents even if they have been used in judicial, administrative, or other transactions.\r\nAnyone who invokes a document suspected of forgery is obliged to sign it.\r\nThis document is deposited in the court's safekeeping box, annotated with the phrase \"Do not alter.\"",
                            "position": 365,
                            "article_number": "375"
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 1053,
                            "body": "The investigating judge may seek technical expertise to match the handwriting and signature in the document suspected of forgery with any available correct signatures or writings. He may have the defendant write directly or through experts, and if he refuses, this is recorded in his interrogation report.",
                            "position": 366,
                            "article_number": "376"
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 1054,
                            "body": "Ordinary papers are suitable for comparison and matching if agreed upon by both the plaintiff and the defendant. If the holder is not an official employee, the provisions of Article 373 of this law apply to compel him to deliver them.",
                            "position": 367,
                            "article_number": "377"
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 1055,
                            "body": "Investigations in forgery cases are conducted according to the procedures followed in other crimes.\r\nBoth the public prosecutor and the investigating judge have the authority to enter the residences of persons suspected of counterfeiting the state's official seals, forging its coins, banknotes, and official stamps, or introducing such counterfeit or forged items into Lebanese territory or mediating their circulation, even if these persons' residences are outside their jurisdiction.",
                            "position": 368,
                            "article_number": "378"
                        }
                    ],
                    "category": "Title",
                    "children": [],
                    "position": 1
                },
                {
                    "id": 356,
                    "name": "Incidental or Subsidiary Forgery Claim",
                    "number": "Second",
                    "articles": [
                        {
                            "id": 1056,
                            "body": "The public prosecution and all parties, at any stage of the case, may challenge the forgery of a document presented in the case.",
                            "position": 369,
                            "article_number": "379"
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 1057,
                            "body": "The incidental claim of forgery is submitted to the registry of the court hearing the case.\r\nThe claimant must specify the document alleged to be forged and the evidence for it.",
                            "position": 370,
                            "article_number": "380"
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 1058,
                            "body": "The court hearing the case refers the incidental claim to the public prosecution for its opinion, and it may postpone the consideration of the original case until the competent judicial authority decides on the incidental forgery claim, provided that the decision in the original case depends on the outcome of the incidental claim.\r\nIf the original case before it is limited to personal compensation, it is postponed until the forgery claim is adjudicated.",
                            "position": 371,
                            "article_number": "381"
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 1059,
                            "body": "If a final decision is issued that there is no forgery, the court that postponed the consideration of the original case due to the incidental forgery claim must impose a fine on the claimant of forgery ranging between five hundred thousand and one million Lebanese pounds, in addition to damages and compensation.",
                            "position": 372,
                            "article_number": "382"
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 1060,
                            "body": "If a document is judged to be forged, the court must order its annulment and destruction.\r\nIf an official document is judged to be forged, either completely or partially, the court deciding the forgery claim must order the annulment of the document's effect or restore it to its original state by erasing what was added or confirming what was deleted.\r\nIn this case, the document is annotated with a summary of the court's judgment.\r\nThe papers used for comparison and verification are returned to their sources.",
                            "position": 373,
                            "article_number": "383"
                        },
                        {
                            "id": 1061,
                            "body": "The same procedures applied in the original forgery claim are applied in the incidental forgery claim.",
                            "position": 374,
                            "article_number": "384"
                        }
                    ],
                    "category": "Title",
                    "children": [],
                    "position": 1
                }
            ],
            "position": 13
        },
        {
            "id": 357,
            "name": "Procedures to Follow in Case of Loss of Case Documents or Issued Judgments",
            "number": "Ninth",
            "articles": [
                {
                    "id": 1062,
                    "body": "If the original copy of the judgment is stolen, lost, or damaged before its execution, or if the case or investigation documents are lost or damaged in whole or in part before a decision is issued, the procedures prescribed in the following articles shall be followed.",
                    "position": 375,
                    "article_number": "385"
                },
                {
                    "id": 1063,
                    "body": "If an officially certified copy of the judgment or decision is found, it shall take the place of the original copy and be kept in its place.\r\nIf the certified copy is in the possession of an official employee or any other person, the president of the court that issued the judgment or decision shall decide to compel them to deliver it to the court registry.\r\nIf they refuse, the provisions of Article 373 of this law shall apply to them.\r\nThe person from whom the certified copy was taken may request a matching copy without incurring any expenses.",
                    "position": 376,
                    "article_number": "386"
                },
                {
                    "id": 1064,
                    "body": "The loss of the original copy of the judgment or decision does not result in a new trial if the means of appeal have been exhausted. A summary of the decision suffices if it is not possible to obtain an officially certified copy of it.",
                    "position": 377,
                    "article_number": "387"
                },
                {
                    "id": 1065,
                    "body": "If the case or investigation documents are lost in whole or in part before a decision is issued, the investigation shall be redone in whole or in part.\r\nIf the case is under consideration by the court, it shall conduct the necessary investigation.\r\nIf the entire case is lost, the file shall be reconstructed according to the procedures.",
                    "position": 378,
                    "article_number": "388"
                },
                {
                    "id": 1066,
                    "body": "If the original judgment or decision is lost and no officially certified copy or summary is found, but the indictment or accusation decision is found, a trial shall be conducted and a new judgment issued.\r\nIf there is no indictment or accusation decision in the case file and no officially certified copy of either is found, the proceedings shall be restarted from the missing section of the documents.",
                    "position": 379,
                    "article_number": "389"
                },
                {
                    "id": 1067,
                    "body": "If the case or investigation documents are lost in whole or in part, and the original copy of the judgment or decision being appealed is available, or there is an officially certified copy of either, and the case is under consideration by the Court of Cassation, the procedures shall not be repeated unless the appeal concerns the trial procedures.\r\nIn the event of a decision being overturned, the regular procedures outlined in the previous articles shall apply.",
                    "position": 380,
                    "article_number": "390"
                }
            ],
            "category": "Section",
            "children": [],
            "position": 13
        },
        {
            "id": 358,
            "name": "On the Procedures of Special Pardon",
            "number": "Tenth",
            "articles": [
                {
                    "id": 1068,
                    "body": "The Higher Judicial Council is vested with the authority to consider requests for special pardon submitted by those sentenced to death by a final judgment or referred to it by the competent authorities.",
                    "position": 381,
                    "article_number": "391"
                },
                {
                    "id": 1069,
                    "body": "The request for a special pardon from the death penalty is submitted directly to the President of the Republic or through the Minister of Justice by means of a petition signed by the convicted person, their agent, or a family member.\r\nThe petition is exempt from stamp duty and judicial fees.",
                    "position": 382,
                    "article_number": "392"
                },
                {
                    "id": 1070,
                    "body": "When a death sentence becomes final, the Minister of Justice refers the case file, accompanied by the report of the Public Prosecutor at the Court of Cassation, to the Higher Judicial Council, which expresses its opinion on the execution of the sentence or its substitution within a maximum of ten days.",
                    "position": 383,
                    "article_number": "393"
                },
                {
                    "id": 1071,
                    "body": "The President of the Higher Judicial Council or a designated member of the council prepares a brief report on the facts of the case, the evidence on which the judgment was based, the reasons for the pardon request, and their opinion on the request.",
                    "position": 384,
                    "article_number": "394"
                },
                {
                    "id": 1072,
                    "body": "The Higher Judicial Council, after hearing the statement of its rapporteur and reviewing the documents, examines the charge against the convicted person, the evidence on which the judgment was based, and the reasons for the pardon request or the requirements of the death penalty or its substitution. It secretly expresses its opinion on rejecting or accepting the request with a proposal to substitute the death penalty and submits a report to the Minister of Justice.",
                    "position": 385,
                    "article_number": "395"
                },
                {
                    "id": 1073,
                    "body": "The Higher Judicial Council forms a committee of three of its members to consider other requests for special pardon.\r\nThe committee, according to the previously stated procedures, may decide on pardon requests for judgments imposing criminal penalties other than death or misdemeanor penalties.",
                    "position": 386,
                    "article_number": "396"
                },
                {
                    "id": 1074,
                    "body": "Upon submitting a pardon request, the execution of a final judgment is suspended if it imposes a fine or imprisonment of less than one year, provided the convicted person is not detained, based on a notification sent by the committee's president to the Public Prosecutor at the Court of Cassation upon receiving the pardon request.",
                    "position": 387,
                    "article_number": "397"
                },
                {
                    "id": 1075,
                    "body": "If the President of the Republic rejects the pardon request, the person sentenced to hard labor for life or for at least ten years may not renew their request before three years have passed in the first case and two years in the second case from the notification of the rejection decision.\r\nThey may renew the pardon request after one year in other cases.\r\nThey may not request a pardon again if the judgment imposes a fine or imprisonment for one year or less. However, this does not prevent the President of the Republic from exercising their right to order the new pardon request to be presented to the committee.",
                    "position": 388,
                    "article_number": "398"
                },
                {
                    "id": 1076,
                    "body": "If the President of the Republic grants the pardon request, a decree is issued in this regard.",
                    "position": 389,
                    "article_number": "399"
                }
            ],
            "category": "Section",
            "children": [],
            "position": 14
        },
        {
            "id": 359,
            "name": "On Judicial Oversight of Detention Places and Prisons and on Protecting Personal Freedom from Unlawful Detention",
            "number": "Eleventh",
            "articles": [
                {
                    "id": 1077,
                    "body": "Decisions ordering detention are executed by placing those ordered to be detained in detention facilities.\r\nConvicts are imprisoned, and the sentences issued against them are executed by placing them in prisons.",
                    "position": 390,
                    "article_number": "400"
                },
                {
                    "id": 1078,
                    "body": "Detention facilities and prisons are determined and organized by a decree issued by the Council of Ministers.",
                    "position": 391,
                    "article_number": "401"
                },
                {
                    "id": 1079,
                    "body": "The Public Prosecutor of the Court of Appeal or Financial Prosecutor, the Investigating Judge, and the Sole Criminal Judge inspect, once a month, the individuals in the detention facilities and prisons within their jurisdiction.\r\n- Each of them has the authority to order the officials in charge of the detention facilities and prisons within their jurisdiction to take the measures required for investigation and trial.",
                    "position": 392,
                    "article_number": "402"
                },
                {
                    "id": 1080,
                    "body": "Each of the Public Prosecutor of the Court of Appeal or Financial Prosecutor and the Sole Criminal Judge, each within their jurisdiction, must release any person detained unlawfully once they verify the illegality of the detention.\r\nIf any of them finds a legitimate reason for detention, the detainee is immediately sent to the competent judicial authority, and a report of the situation is prepared.\r\nIf any of them neglects to act as mentioned above, they are subject to disciplinary action.",
                    "position": 393,
                    "article_number": "403"
                },
                {
                    "id": 1081,
                    "body": "The Public Prosecutor at the court that issued the judgment executes the final criminal judgments issued by the Criminal, Appeal, and Cassation Courts. The Sole Criminal Judge executes the judgments issued by them.\r\nThe execution of judgment summaries is ensured by a written assignment to the Internal Security Forces.",
                    "position": 394,
                    "article_number": "404"
                },
                {
                    "id": 1082,
                    "body": "The provisions of Articles 53 and the following up to Article 65 inclusively of the Penal Code, and Articles 112 to 117 inclusively thereof, apply to the execution of criminal judgments.",
                    "position": 395,
                    "article_number": "405"
                },
                {
                    "id": 1083,
                    "body": "The day on which execution begins is counted as part of the sentence duration.\r\nThe convict is released on the day the sentence duration ends. - If the sentence duration is twenty-four hours, its execution ends the day after it begins.\r\nThe execution of the sentence that restricts or deprives freedom begins from the day the convict is arrested in execution of the judgment issued against them, deducting the duration of their detention.",
                    "position": 396,
                    "article_number": "406"
                },
                {
                    "id": 1084,
                    "body": "If the accused or defendant is acquitted of the crime for which they were detained, the detention period must be deducted from any sentence imposed on them for any other crime committed before or during their detention.",
                    "position": 397,
                    "article_number": "407"
                },
                {
                    "id": 1085,
                    "body": "The deduction of the detention period, when there are multiple sentences restricting or depriving freedom imposed on the defendant or accused, is made from the lightest sentence first.",
                    "position": 398,
                    "article_number": "408"
                },
                {
                    "id": 1086,
                    "body": "If the convict is pregnant, the execution of her sentence is postponed until ten weeks after childbirth.",
                    "position": 399,
                    "article_number": "409"
                },
                {
                    "id": 1087,
                    "body": "If the convict with a sentence restricting or depriving freedom is suffering from a life-threatening illness, their sentence can be executed in the prison hospital.",
                    "position": 400,
                    "article_number": "410"
                },
                {
                    "id": 1088,
                    "body": "If the convict with a sentence restricting or depriving freedom becomes insane or suffers from a serious mental illness, the Public Prosecution may order their placement in a hospital prepared for mental illnesses.\r\nThe duration spent in the hospital is deducted from the sentence imposed on them.\r\nIf their illness persists, the provisions of the law related to mental patients apply to them.",
                    "position": 401,
                    "article_number": "411"
                },
                {
                    "id": 1089,
                    "body": "The detainee is released upon the issuance of a judgment declaring acquittal, annulment of proceedings, a sentence not requiring imprisonment, or a judgment suspending the execution of the sentence, or if the detainee has spent in pretrial detention the duration of the sentence imposed on them.",
                    "position": 402,
                    "article_number": "412"
                },
                {
                    "id": 1090,
                    "body": "If personal compensation, court costs, and fines are imposed, and the convict's assets do not cover all of them, the following priority must be followed in execution.\r\nA - Personal compensation.\r\nB - Court costs.\r\nC - Fine.",
                    "position": 403,
                    "article_number": "413"
                },
                {
                    "id": 1091,
                    "body": "Personal compensation awarded and any advanced legal fees and expenses are executed, upon the request of the personal plaintiff, in accordance with the provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure.",
                    "position": 404,
                    "article_number": "414"
                },
                {
                    "id": 1092,
                    "body": "The convict must pay the court costs to the State Treasury within ten days from the date of being notified after the judgment becomes final.\r\nIf they fail to pay, the Public Prosecutor decides to imprison them for twenty-four hours for every ten thousand Lebanese pounds.\r\nThe imprisonment period must not exceed six months, and the convict cannot be imprisoned instead of paying court costs if they were a minor at the time of committing the crime.\r\nIf the detention period of the defendant exceeds the imprisonment sentence imposed on them, the equivalent is deducted from the fine and court costs imposed, according to the substitution mentioned above.",
                    "position": 405,
                    "article_number": "415"
                },
                {
                    "id": 1093,
                    "body": "The division rule outlined in Article 53 of the Penal Code applies to court costs.",
                    "position": 406,
                    "article_number": "416"
                },
                {
                    "id": 1094,
                    "body": "If the convict serves the imprisonment period substituted for the fine and court costs, the Treasury's debt is extinguished.",
                    "position": 407,
                    "article_number": "417"
                },
                {
                    "id": 1095,
                    "body": "If the convict is imprisoned to settle the fine and court costs and expresses a desire while in prison to settle their debt to the state, the Public Prosecutor or their representative orders their release from prison and brings them to pay the amounts due after deducting the value equivalent to the time spent in prison.\r\nIf the convict pays the full amount required upon their detention, they are immediately released, and the decision to substitute imprisonment for the fine and court costs becomes void.",
                    "position": 408,
                    "article_number": "418"
                },
                {
                    "id": 1096,
                    "body": "Upon the death of the convict, their escape, or loss of legal capacity, the court costs and fine are collected by the Ministry of Finance as public funds are collected.",
                    "position": 409,
                    "article_number": "419"
                },
                {
                    "id": 1097,
                    "body": "The death penalty is not executed without consulting the Pardon Committee and obtaining the President of the Republic's approval.\r\nThe sentence is executed by a decree specifying the place and method of execution. Execution of the death penalty is prohibited on Sundays, Fridays, and national and religious holidays.\r\nThe death penalty is not executed on a pregnant woman until ten weeks after childbirth.",
                    "position": 410,
                    "article_number": "420"
                },
                {
                    "id": 1098,
                    "body": "The execution of the death sentence is carried out in the presence of the following persons:\r\nA - The president of the panel that issued the judgment. If unable to attend, the First President of the Court of Cassation appoints a judge for this purpose.\r\nB - The public prosecutor at the court that issued the judgment or one of his assistants.\r\nC - A judge from the civil court of first instance where the execution takes place.\r\nD - The clerk of the court that issued the judgment.\r\nE - The attorney of the convicted person.\r\nF - A clergyman from the religious sect to which the convicted person belongs.\r\nG - The prison director.\r\nH - The commander of the judicial police in Beirut or his delegate, or the commander of the gendarmerie company where the execution takes place or his delegate.\r\nI - The prison doctor or the forensic doctor in the area.",
                    "position": 411,
                    "article_number": "421"
                },
                {
                    "id": 1099,
                    "body": "The civil judge, referred to in paragraph (C) of the previous article, asks the convicted person if he has anything he wishes to say or declare before the execution of the sentence.\r\nThis is recorded in a special report signed by him and the clerk.",
                    "position": 412,
                    "article_number": "422"
                },
                {
                    "id": 1100,
                    "body": "The clerk of the court that issued the judgment prepares a report on the execution of the death sentence, signed by those mentioned in paragraphs (A), (B), and (D) of Article 421 of this law at the place where the execution was carried out.\r\nA copy of this report is posted for twenty-four hours at the place of execution. The clerk copies the execution report at the end of the original judgment kept at the court.",
                    "position": 413,
                    "article_number": "423"
                },
                {
                    "id": 1101,
                    "body": "It is prohibited to publish any statement in the newspapers regarding the execution of the death sentence except for the report mentioned in the previous article.\r\nAny violation of this prohibition exposes the perpetrator to the penalty stipulated in Article 420 of the Penal Code.",
                    "position": 414,
                    "article_number": "424"
                }
            ],
            "category": "Section",
            "children": [],
            "position": 14
        },
        {
            "id": 360,
            "name": "Execution Issues of Criminal Judgments",
            "number": "Twelfth",
            "articles": [
                {
                    "id": 1102,
                    "body": "The court's jurisdiction over the case ceases when it issues its judgment.",
                    "position": 415,
                    "article_number": "425"
                },
                {
                    "id": 1103,
                    "body": "If a purely material error, whether clerical or computational, occurs in the judgment or in the decision issued by one of the judicial authorities, this authority can correct the error on its own initiative or upon the request of one of the parties to the case.\r\nThe correction is decided in chambers, and the correction issued is noted in the margin of the judgment or decision.",
                    "position": 416,
                    "article_number": "426"
                },
                {
                    "id": 1104,
                    "body": "The court that issued the judgment is competent to consider the request for its interpretation.\r\nIt decides after consulting the opinion of the Public Prosecution.",
                    "position": 417,
                    "article_number": "427"
                }
            ],
            "category": "Section",
            "children": [],
            "position": 15
        },
        {
            "id": 361,
            "name": "Transitional Provisions",
            "number": "Thirteenth",
            "articles": [
                {
                    "id": 1105,
                    "body": "The Code of Criminal Procedure issued on 18\/09\/1948 and its amendments are hereby repealed, as well as all provisions and legislative texts that are contrary to or inconsistent with this law.",
                    "position": 1,
                    "article_number": "428"
                },
                {
                    "id": 1106,
                    "body": "This law shall come into effect three months after its publication in the Official Gazette.",
                    "position": 1,
                    "article_number": "429"
                }
            ],
            "category": "Section",
            "children": [],
            "position": 16
        }
    ],
    "root_articles": []
}