Article 1 of the Saudi Ministers Trial Law
المادة 1 من نظام محاكمة الوزراء
The article sets the scope of the Law: it applies to members of the Council of Ministers and employees appointed at the rank of minister who commit, in the course of their duties, a crime provided for in it.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تسري أحكام هذا النظام على أعضاء مجلس الوزراء والموظفين المعينين بمرتبة وزير، إذا ارتكبوا أثناء تأدية وظيفتهم أي الجرائم المنصوص عنها في هذا النظام.
This is the official Arabic wording, the only legally binding version. We do not translate the law itself; the explanation below is ours. Official source: Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers
Article 1 explained in plain English
This article is the entry point to the Ministers Trial Law, and it shows to whom its provisions apply and when. The Law does not address the general public or employees generally, but two specific categories:
- Members of the Council of Ministers.
- Employees appointed at the rank of minister, even if they are not members of the Council.
The text requires two conditions together for the Law to apply: the crime must be one of the crimes provided for in this Law, and it must be committed in the course of performing the duties of the office. If either condition is missing, this Law is not the one to be applied, according to the wording of the article.
Article 2 follows to begin listing the crimes and their penalties, including attempting to change the monarchy and the crimes of high treason, endangering the internal security, safety and unity of the State, and undermining the loyalty of members of the armed forces to the King, punishable by 25 years' imprisonment or death. Article 1 is therefore understood as defining the persons and the time, while the following articles define the criminalized acts.
This is a general explanation of the text and not an opinion on a particular case; anyone who needs an assessment of a specific situation should consult a lawyer who specializes in criminal and administrative matters.
Practical example
An employee was appointed by official order at the rank of minister to head a government body, and was then accused of an act that this Law criminalizes, committed while he was carrying out his work. Under Article 1, this employee falls within the scope of the Law even though he is not a member of the Council of Ministers, because the text covers those appointed at the rank of minister.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
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Frequently asked questions about Article 1 of the Saudi Ministers Trial Law
Who does the Ministers Trial Law apply to?
To members of the Council of Ministers and employees appointed at the rank of minister, if they commit, in the course of their duties, a crime provided for in the Law.
Does the Law cover someone at the rank of minister who is not a member of the Council of Ministers?
Yes. The text expressly mentions employees appointed at the rank of minister alongside members of the Council of Ministers.
Does the Law apply to any crime a minister commits?
The text ties its application to the crimes provided for in this Law and to their being committed in the course of performing the duties of the office.
More articles on Scope of the Ministers Trial Law
The texts are reproduced from the official website of the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers for reference; where they differ, the officially published Arabic text prevails. This content is not legal advice.