Article 15 of the Saudi Public Prosecution Law
المادة 15 من نظام النيابة العامة
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.
Official text after amendments (Arabic)
Compiled from the original text and every officially published amendment; the amendments are shown in full below for comparison.
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 نهائية إلا بعد موافقة مجلس الهيئة عليها
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 15 explained in plain English
This article sets out the body competent to discipline the Authority's members and how it works:
- The body: a circuit called the "Disciplinary Council".
- Its place: it is formed within the Authority's Council.
- Number of members: 3 members.
- Their appointment: by decision of the head of the Authority.
- Decisions: issued by majority.
- Finality: its decisions are not final until the Authority's Council approves them.
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 Disciplinary Council's decision alone is therefore not enough; the Authority's Council must approve it for it to become final. This is an additional guarantee for the member.
Amendments: the current text is the wording in Royal Decree No. (M/31) dated 13/4/1436 AH.
This article comes after Article 14, which prohibits trying members except under the conditions and rules for their discipline. It is followed by Article 16, which gives the head of an investigation and prosecution department or departments the right to warn the investigators under it about anything they do contrary to their duties after hearing their statements, allows the investigator to object within 15 days of being notified of the warning, and provides for bringing a disciplinary action if the violation is repeated or continues after the warning is upheld.
A member of the Public Prosecution facing disciplinary proceedings should consult a lawyer who specializes in 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 15 of the Saudi Public Prosecution Law
Who handles the discipline of Public Prosecution members?
A circuit called the Disciplinary Council, formed within the Authority's Council of three members named by decision of the head of the Authority.
Are Disciplinary Council decisions final?
They are not final until the Authority's Council approves them.
Amendment history
Royal Decree No. M/31 — 13/4/1436 AH
Official amendment text (Arabic)
تم تعديل هذه المادة بموجب المرسوم الملكي رقم ( م/31) وتاريخ 13 / 4 / 1436 هـ ، لتكون بالصيغة الآتية :
"المادة الخامسة عشرة :
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 نهائية إلا بعد موافقة مجلس الهيئة عليها".
Original text before the amendments (Arabic)
تأديب أعضاء الهيئة يكون من اختصاص لجنة إدارة الهيئة، بوصفها مجلس تأديب. وإذا كان العضو المقدم إلى المحاكمة عضوا فيها، فيندب رئيس الهيئة من يراه - من مرتبة رئيس دائرة تحقيق وادعاء ( أ ) - ليحل محله، ولا يمنع من الجلوس في مجلس التأديب سبق الاشتراك في طلب إحالة المتهم إلى التقاعد أو طلب رفع الدعوى التأديبية ضده.
More articles on Disciplining Prosecution Members
- Article 14
The article provides that members of the Public Prosecution may not be tried except under the conditions and rules for their discipline.
لا تجوز محاكمة أعضاء الهيئة، إلا وفق الشروط والقواعد الخاصة بتأديبهم.
- 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.