Article 8 of the Saudi Ministers Trial Law

This article sets a special safeguard for the most severe penalty in the Law, the death penalty:

• If a death sentence is issued unanimously, that is, with the agreement of all members of the trial panel, it may be carried out.
• If it is issued by majority only, it is not carried out, and instead the case is referred to the judiciary to decide it.

This means that a death sentence is not satisfied by the majority that suffices for other decisions; unanimity is required for it to be carried out. The text does not specify the judicial body to which the case is referred or the procedures for hearing it there.

This article follows Article 7, which deals with the return of what the convicted person gained and compensation, and precedes Article 9, which requires the Law's procedures to be followed at all stages of investigation and trial and makes any breach of them invalidate the judgment. Articles 8 and 9 together reflect the Law's concern for safeguards in serious cases.

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.