Article 17 of the Saudi Public Prosecution Law
المادة 17 من نظام النيابة العامة
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.
Official text after amendments (Arabic)
Compiled from the original text and every officially published amendment; the amendments are shown in full below for comparison.
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 الذي يندبه مجلس النيابة العامة. ويشترط في عضو النيابة العامة الذي يندب للتحقيق أن يكون في مرتبة أعلى من مرتبة العضو المحقق معه أو سابقاً له في الأقدمية إن كانا في مرتبة واحدة
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 17 explained in plain English
This article regulates bringing the disciplinary action against a member of the Public Prosecution, and contains three elements:
- Who brings the action: the head of the Inspection Department or his delegate, at the request of the Attorney General.
- The prior investigation condition: the action is brought only on the basis of an investigation carried out by one of the members of the Public Prosecution whom the Public Prosecution Council appoints.
- A condition on the investigator: he must be of a higher rank than the member being investigated, or senior to him if both are of the same rank.
These conditions are guarantees for the referred member: no action without a request from the Attorney General, no action without a prior investigation, and he is not investigated by someone below him in rank or junior to him in the same rank.
Amendments: the current text was issued by Royal Decree No. (M/125) dated 14/9/1441 AH.
This article is linked to Article 16, which shows that if the violation is repeated or continues after the committee upholds the warning, the disciplinary action is brought. It is followed by Article 18, which requires the action to be brought by a memorandum containing the charge and the supporting evidence, submitted to the Disciplinary Council to issue its decision after inviting the accused to appear.
A member of the Public Prosecution against whom these proceedings are taken 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 17 of the Saudi Public Prosecution Law
Who brings the disciplinary action against a member of the Public Prosecution?
The head of the Inspection Department or his delegate, at the request of the Attorney General.
Can the disciplinary action be brought without an investigation?
No. The action is brought only on the basis of an investigation carried out by a member of the Public Prosecution whom the Public Prosecution Council appoints.
What are the conditions for the person investigating a member of the Prosecution?
He must be of a higher rank than the member being investigated, or senior to him if they are of the same rank.
Amendment history
Royal Decree No. M/125 — 14/9/1441 AH
Official amendment text (Arabic)
- عُدلت هذه المادة وذلك بموجب المرسوم الملكي رقم (م/125) وتاريخ 1441/9/14هـ، لتصبح بالنص الآتي: "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 الذي يندبه مجلس النيابة العامة. ويشترط في عضو النيابة العامة الذي يندب للتحقيق أن يكون في مرتبة أعلى من مرتبة العضو المحقق معه أو سابقاً له في الأقدمية إن كانا في مرتبة واحدة".
Original text before the amendments (Arabic)
ترفع الدعوى التأديبية بأمر من وزير الداخلية بناء على اقتراح رئيس الهيئة، ولا تقام هذه الدعوى إلا بناء على تحقيق يتولاه أحد أعضاء الهيئة الذي يندبه وزير الداخلية بناء على اقتراح رئيس الهيئة، ويشترط في عضو الهيئة الذي يندب للتحقيق أن يكون في مرتبة أعلى من مرتبة العضو المحقق معه أو سابقا له في الأقدمية إن كانا في مرتبة واحدة.
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 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 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.