Article 18 of the Saudi Ministers Trial Law
المادة 18 من نظام محاكمة الوزراء
The article allows the trial panel, if it finds a deficiency in the investigation, to complete it itself or through members it delegates.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
لهيئة المحاكمة إذا رأت نقصا في التحقيق أن تستكمله بنفسها أو بمن تنتدبه من أعضائها لهذا الغرض.
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 18 explained in plain English
This article gives the trial panel an important power: if it finds a deficiency in the investigation that preceded the trial, it is not forced to rule on an incomplete basis, but may complete it in one of two ways:
- By itself, that is, the panel sitting together.
- Through members it delegates for this purpose.
Note that, according to the text, the delegation is made only from among the members of the panel. The power is discretionary: it is the panel that assesses whether there is a deficiency.
It is preceded by Article 17 on the president of the panel selecting a clerk to keep the minutes of the sessions, and followed by Article 19, which requires the president of the panel to set the date of its sitting within no more than thirty days from the date the accused is served with the referral decision, and to direct the public prosecutor to notify the accused of the trial date and place and the names of the prosecution witnesses at least eight days before the date.
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 18 of the Saudi Ministers Trial Law
Can the ministers trial panel investigate by itself?
Yes. If it finds a deficiency in the investigation, it may complete it itself or through members it delegates.
Can someone from outside the panel be delegated to complete the investigation?
The text mentions delegation only from among the members of the 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 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 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.