Article 17 of the Saudi Ministers Trial Law
المادة 17 من نظام محاكمة الوزراء
The Article provides that the chair of the trial panel chooses a secretary to keep and record the minutes of the sessions.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يختار رئيس هيئة المحاكمة أمين سر لضبط محاضر الجلسات وتدوينها.
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 17 explained in plain English
This Article deals with an organizational aspect of the trial, namely documenting the sessions:
- Who chooses? The chair of the trial panel.
- Who is chosen? A secretary.
- What is the secretary's task? To keep and record the minutes of the sessions.
The minutes are the written record of what takes place in the sessions, including attendance, statements, and procedures, and their importance is that they establish what took place before the panel. The text does not state any particular conditions for the secretary.
It is preceded by Article 16, which provides that the person who performs the duty of public prosecution is the one chosen by the Prime Minister, and is followed by Article 18, which allows the trial panel, if it sees a deficiency in the investigation, to complete it itself or through members it delegates. Articles 16, 17, and 18 complete the framework within which the trial panel works.
This is a general explanation of the text and not an opinion on any particular case; anyone who needs to assess a specific situation is best advised to consult a lawyer specializing 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 17 of the Saudi Ministers Trial Law
Who records the minutes of the sessions in the trial of ministers?
A secretary chosen by the chair of the trial panel to keep and record the minutes.
Who chooses the secretary?
The chair of the trial panel.
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 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 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.