Article 15 of the Saudi Ministers Trial Law
المادة 15 من نظام محاكمة الوزراء
The article provides that the ministers' trial panel consists of three ministers chosen by the Council of Ministers by lot and two Sharia members, with no relatives of the accused, presided over by the oldest minister.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تتولى محاكمة الوزراء أو من في مرتبتهم وفقا لهذا النظام، هيئة تشكل من "ثلاثة وزراء" يختارهم مجلس الوزراء بطريق (القرعة) وعضوين شرعيين برتبة رئيس محكمة كبرى، على الأقل. ولا يكون من بينهم من يمت للمتهم بالقرابة. ويكون أكبر الوزراء سنا هو رئيس هيئة المحاكمة .
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 15 explained in plain English
This article specifies the body that tries ministers and those of equivalent rank, which is a special panel made up of:
- Three ministers chosen by the Council of Ministers by lot, not by direct appointment.
- Two Sharia members of at least the rank of president of a major court.
The article sets two safeguards for impartiality:
- Drawing lots to choose the minister members.
- No member of the panel may be related to the accused.
The oldest of the ministers presides over the trial panel.
This article follows Article 14, which requires suspending the accused from work and stopping his salaries until his matter is decided, and is followed by Article 16, which provides that the person who performs the duty of public prosecution is the one chosen by the Prime Minister. The panel therefore decides, while the prosecution is handled by another person chosen by the Prime Minister.
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.
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 15 of the Saudi Ministers Trial Law
Who tries a minister in Saudi Arabia?
A panel of three ministers chosen by the Council of Ministers by lot and two Sharia members of at least the rank of president of a major court.
How are the minister members of the trial panel chosen?
The Council of Ministers chooses them by lot.
Who presides over the ministers' trial panel?
The oldest of the minister members.
Can a relative of the accused sit on the panel?
No. The text prevents any of the members from being related to the accused.
More articles on The Ministers Trial Body and Its Procedures
- Article 9
The article requires the procedures set out in the Law to be followed at all stages of investigation and trial, and makes any breach of them a ground for invalidating the judgment.
الإجراءات المنصوص عليها في هذا النظام واجبة الاتباع في جميع أدوار التحقيق والمحاكمة، وأي إخلال بها يجعل الحكم باطلا.
- 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 16
The article provides that whoever the Prime Minister selects performs the duty of public prosecution in the trial of ministers.
يقوم بواجب الادعاء العام من يختاره رئيس مجلس الوزراء .
- Article 17
The article provides that the president of the trial panel selects a clerk to keep and record the minutes of the sessions.
يختار رئيس هيئة المحاكمة أمين سر لضبط محاضر الجلسات وتدوينها.
- Article 18
The article allows the trial panel, if it finds a deficiency in the investigation, to complete it itself or through members it delegates.
لهيئة المحاكمة إذا رأت نقصا في التحقيق أن تستكمله بنفسها أو بمن تنتدبه من أعضائها لهذا الغرض.
- Article 19
The article requires the president of the panel to set the sitting date within thirty days of notifying the accused of the referral decision, and to notify him of the date, place and prosecution witnesses at least eight days ahead.
يعين رئيس هيئة المحاكمة موعد انعقادها للنظر في الموضوع خلال مدة لا تزيد عن ثلاثين يوما من تاريخ إعلان المتهم بصورة من قرار إحالته إلى المحاكمة. وعلى رئيس هيئة ا
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.