Article 20 of the Saudi Ministers Trial Law

المادة 20 من نظام محاكمة الوزراء

The article requires sessions to be held in the presence of the accused, postpones them by up to seven days if he is absent with notice to him, then allows trial in absentia, and gives him the right to a representative with legal experience.

Official text (Arabic)

This article has not been amended since the law was issued.

تعقد هيئة المحاكمة جلساتها بحضور المتهم، فإذا تغيب المتهم عن الحضور تؤجل الجلسة إلى موعد آخر لا يتجاوز سبعة أيام من تاريخ التأجيل. وعلى المدعي العام إعلان المتهم في آخر محل إقامة له داخل المملكة عن الموعد الجديد، فإذا لم يعلم له محل إقامة ثابتة جاز تبليغه في مقر وزارة الداخلية ، وتجري محاكمة المتهم غيابيا بعد ذلك ، وللمتهم أن يستحضر معه وكيلا له خبرة في الشئون النظامية لحضور جلسات المحاكمة والدفاع عنه .

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 20 explained in plain English

This article regulates the attendance of the accused, the consequences of his absence, and his right of defense:

Attendance is the rule: the trial panel holds its sessions in the presence of the accused.
If he is absent: the session is postponed to another date no more than seven days after the postponement.
Notice of the new date: the public prosecutor notifies him at his last place of residence in the Kingdom; if no fixed residence is known, he may be notified at the Ministry of Interior headquarters.
Trial in absentia: he is then tried in absentia.
Right of defense: the accused may bring with him a representative with experience in legal matters to attend the sessions and defend him.

It is preceded by Article 19, which requires the accused to be notified of the trial date, place and the names of the prosecution witnesses at least eight days before the date. It is followed by Article 21, which provides that the panel's decision is issued by majority vote and that its meetings are valid only if all members attend.

Anyone who needs a representative in cases of this kind can engage a lawyer specializing in criminal cases.

Practical example

An accused minister is absent from the first session. The session is postponed to a date no more than seven days away, and the public prosecutor notifies him of it at his last place of residence in the Kingdom. If he is absent again, he is tried in absentia. Had he attended, he could have brought a representative with experience in legal matters to defend him.

Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.

How we write and review content

Criminal Law lawyers: ask a specialist about your case

Describe your situation briefly and we'll suggest a lawyer who specialises in this law