Article 14 of the Saudi Public Prosecution Law
المادة 14 من نظام النيابة العامة
The article provides that members of the Public Prosecution may not be tried except under the conditions and rules for their discipline.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
لا تجوز محاكمة أعضاء الهيئة، إلا وفق الشروط والقواعد الخاصة بتأديبهم.
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 14 explained in plain English
This article sets a guarantee for the Authority's members, to the effect that their trial takes place only under the conditions and rules for their discipline, not under the general rules applied to others.
The article uses the words "the Authority" and "members of the Authority" as in its wording; those meant in this Law are the members of the Public Prosecution.
The aim of this guarantee is to protect the member's independence in carrying out his work, so that he is not exposed to prosecution that does not pass through the rules the Law set for this purpose. This article does not mean that the member is beyond accountability, but that his accountability passes through a specific route.
The article does not detail these rules itself. Article 15, which follows it, shows that discipline of the Authority's members is within the jurisdiction of a circuit called the "Disciplinary Council" formed within the Authority's Council of three members named by decision of the head of the Authority, whose decisions are issued by majority and are not final until the Authority's Council approves them.
It comes after Article 13, which shows that a member's service ends, in cases other than death, reaching the legal age and failure to prove suitability during probation, by royal order based on a decision of the Public Prosecution Council.
Anyone with a complaint about the conduct of a member of the Public Prosecution, or who is a member against whom proceedings are being taken, should consult a lawyer who specializes in administrative cases to learn the legal route.
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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Active contributorFrequently asked questions about Article 14 of the Saudi Public Prosecution Law
Can a member of the Public Prosecution be tried?
Yes, but he may not be tried except under the conditions and rules for the discipline of the Authority's members.
Who handles the discipline of Public Prosecution members?
Article 15 shows that discipline is within the jurisdiction of the Disciplinary Council circuit formed within the Authority's Council of three members.
More articles on Disciplining Prosecution Members
- Article 15Amended (1436 AH)
The article makes discipline of Public Prosecution members the responsibility of a three-member Disciplinary Council within the Authority's Council named by its head, deciding by majority; its decisions are final only with the Council's approval.
يكون تأديب أعضاء الهيئة من اختصاص دائرة (مجلس التأديب) تشكل في مجلس الهيئة من ثلاثة أعضاء يصدر بتسميتهم قرار من رئيس الهيئة، وتصدر قراراتها بالأغلبية، ولا تكون
- Article 17Amended (1441 AH)
The article provides that the head of the Inspection Department or his delegate brings the disciplinary action at the Attorney General's request, after an investigation by a member the Council appoints who is senior in rank or seniority to the member investigated.
يرفع رئيس دائرة التفتيش – أو من ينبيه – الدعوى التأديبية بناء على طلب من النائب العام، ولا تقام هذه الدعوى إلا بناء على تحقيق يتولاه أحد أعضاء النيابة العامة ال
- Article 18
The article requires the disciplinary action to be brought by a memorandum containing the charge and its evidence, submitted to the Disciplinary Council to issue its decision after inviting the accused to appear before it.
ترفع الدعوى التأديبية بمذكرة تشتمل على التهمة الموجهة والأدلة المؤيدة لها، وتقدم إلى مجلس التأديب ليصدر قراره، بدعوة المتهم بالحضور أمام المجلس.
- Article 20
The article allows the Disciplinary Council to carry out necessary investigations or appoint one of its members to do so, and requires the accused to be summoned in sufficient time with an adequate statement of the case and the evidence.
يجوز لمجلس التأديب أن يجري ما يراه لازما من التحقيقات، وله أن يندب أحد أعضائه للقيام بذلك، فإذا رأى مجلس التأديب وجها للسير في إجراءات المحاكمة عن جميع التهم ال
- Article 21
The article allows the Disciplinary Council, when it decides to proceed to trial, to order the accused suspended from performing his post's work, and to reconsider the suspension at any time.
يجوز لمجلس التأديب عند تقرير السير في إجراءات المحاكمة أن يأمر بوقف المتهم عن مباشرة أعمال وظيفته، وللمجلس في كل وقت أن يعيد النظر في أمر الوقف.
- Article 22
The article provides that the disciplinary action lapses when a member of the Public Prosecution resigns, and that it does not affect the criminal or civil action arising from the same incident.
تنقضي الدعوى التأديبية باستقالة عضو الهيئة، ولا تأثير للدعوى التأديبية على الدعوى الجزائية أو المدنية الناشئة عن الواقعة نفسها.
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.