Article 14 of the Saudi Ministers Trial Law
المادة 14 من نظام محاكمة الوزراء
The article requires the accused to be suspended from work and his salaries stopped until his matter is decided, and provides that ending a minister's service does not prevent bringing or continuing the case.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يصدر رئيس مجلس الوزراء قرارا بكف يد المتهم عن العمل إلى أن يفصل في أمره، ويوقف صرف رواتبه منذ صدور القرار بكف اليد.
ولا يحيل إنهاء خدمة الوزير دون إقامة الدعوى عليه أو الاستمرار فيها.
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 14 explained in plain English
This article contains two provisions:
- Suspension from work and stopping the salary: the Prime Minister issues a decision suspending the accused from work until his matter is decided, and his salaries stop being paid from the date the suspension decision is issued. That is, the salary stops from the date of the decision, not before it.
- Ending service does not stop the case: ending the minister's service does not prevent bringing the case against him or continuing it. Resignation or dismissal does not remove accountability for the crimes covered by the Law.
This article differs from Article 13, which makes pretrial detention a discretionary power of the Council of Ministers and then of the trial panel; suspension from work here is worded by the text with the verb "issues", which indicates obligation.
After these procedures comes Article 15, which sets out the composition of the trial panel of three ministers by lot and two Sharia members. The text does not state what happens to the withheld salaries after the judgment is issued.
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
A minister was referred to trial, and a decision was issued suspending him from work and stopping his salary from the date of the decision. A few days later an order was issued ending his service. Under Article 14, ending his service does not prevent continuing the case brought against him.
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 14 of the Saudi Ministers Trial Law
Is an accused minister's salary stopped?
Yes. His salaries stop being paid from the date the decision suspending him from work is issued.
Does a minister's case lapse if his service ends?
No. The text provides that ending a minister's service does not prevent bringing the case against him or continuing it.
How long does the minister's suspension from work last?
Until his matter is decided.
More articles on Investigating and Charging a Minister
- Article 10
The article requires the Prime Minister, when serious evidence arises, to form an investigation committee of two ministers and a Sharia member, which reports to him within thirty days of being assigned.
يقوم رئيس مجلس الوزراء بمجرد قيام دلائل جدية على اقتراف الوزير أو من في مرتبته إحدى الجرائم المنصوص عليها في هذا النظام، بتأليف لجنة تحقيق من وزيرين أو من في مر
- Article 11
The article requires the investigation committee's report to be put before the Council of Ministers within fifteen days and discussed in the accused's absence; if the Council decides on indictment, it forms the trial panel under Article 15.
يحدد رئيس مجلس الوزراء جلسة لمجلس الوزراء لمناقشة تقرير اللجنة خلال خمسة عشر يوما من تاريخ رفع التقرير إليه، وتكون المناقشة في غيبة المتهم. يتخذ مجلس الوزراء قر
- Article 12
The article requires the Prime Minister, on indictment, to order the accused to be notified with a copy of the decision referring him to trial, with notification made in accordance with Article 20.
في حالة الاتهام يأمر رئيس مجلس الوزراء بإبلاغ المتهم بصورة من قرار الإحالة إلى المحاكمة، ويجري تبليغ المتهم وفقا لما هو وارد في المادة (20) من هذا النظام.
- Article 13
The article allows the Council of Ministers, when referring the accused to trial, to order his detention until the first session, after which the trial panel may renew the detention if necessary.
لمجلس الوزراء عند إقراره إحالة المتهم إلى المحاكمة، أن يقرر حبسه احتياطيا لحين انعقاد أول جلسة من جلسات هيئة المحاكمة، ولهيئة المحاكمة بعد ذلك أن تجدد حبس المته
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.