Article 16 of the Saudi Ministers Trial Law
المادة 16 من نظام محاكمة الوزراء
The article provides that whoever the Prime Minister selects performs the duty of public prosecution in the trial of ministers.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يقوم بواجب الادعاء العام من يختاره رئيس مجلس الوزراء .
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 16 explained in plain English
This article identifies who handles the public prosecution before the ministers trial panel: whoever the Prime Minister selects.
The public prosecution is the party that represents the side of the accusation in the case. Opposite it stand the accused and his representative in the defense, while the trial panel decides the case. In this way the Ministers Trial Law separates the one who accuses from the one who judges.
The formation of the trial panel itself is governed by Article 15: three ministers chosen by lot by the Council of Ministers, and two Sharia members of at least the rank of president of a major court, none of whom may be related to the accused. Article 16, by contrast, does not require any particular status or rank in the person selected for the prosecution and does not state how he is selected; that is left to the Prime Minister.
It is followed by Article 17, which provides that the president of the trial panel selects a clerk to keep and record the minutes of the sessions. Together these complete the parties to the trial: the judging panel, the public prosecution, and the clerk.
This is a general explanation of the text, not an opinion on any particular case. Anyone who needs an assessment of a specific situation should consult a lawyer specializing in criminal and administrative cases.
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 16 of the Saudi Ministers Trial Law
Who handles the public prosecution in the trial of ministers?
Whoever the Prime Minister selects.
Does the text require a particular status for the public prosecutor?
The article does not state any conditions or particular rank for the person selected for the prosecution.
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 15
The Article provides that the panel trying ministers consists of three ministers chosen by the Council of Ministers by lot and two Sharia members, with no relatives of the accused, and is chaired by the oldest minister.
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
- Article 17
The Article provides that the chair of the trial panel chooses a secretary 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.