Article 18 of the Saudi Public Prosecution Law
المادة 18 من نظام النيابة العامة
The article requires the disciplinary case to be brought by a memorandum stating the charge and its evidence, submitted to the Disciplinary Council, which issues its decision after calling the accused to appear before it.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
ترفع الدعوى التأديبية بمذكرة تشتمل على التهمة الموجهة والأدلة المؤيدة لها، وتقدم إلى مجلس التأديب ليصدر قراره، بدعوة المتهم بالحضور أمام المجلس.
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 18 explained in plain English
This article sets out the form of the disciplinary case and how it is submitted:
- Form: the case is brought by a written memorandum.
- Content: the memorandum must contain:
- the charge brought against the member; and
- the evidence supporting it.
- The body: the memorandum is submitted to the Disciplinary Council so that it issues its decision.
- Calling the accused: this is done by calling the accused member to appear before the Council.
This article achieves an important guarantee: the accused member knows what he is charged with and what the accusation rests on, and is called to appear, so a decision on his matter is not issued without his being given a chance to appear before the Council.
This article follows Article 17, which shows that the head of the Inspection Department or his delegate brings the case at the request of the Attorney General, and that the case is brought only after an investigation conducted by a member whom the Public Prosecution Council assigns, of higher rank than the member being investigated or senior to him if they are of the same rank.
Article 19, which follows, deals with a different subject: the arrest of a member of the Authority in cases of flagrante delicto, and the duty to refer the matter to the Authority's management committee within 24 hours.
A Public Prosecution member against whom a disciplinary case is brought should consult a lawyer specialized 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.
How we write and review contentAdministrative Law lawyers: ask a specialist about your case
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Dr. Ali Al-Rubaie Law Office and Ittihad Al-Asr Legal Company
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Frequently asked questions about Article 18 of the Saudi Public Prosecution Law
How is a disciplinary case brought against a Public Prosecution member?
By a memorandum containing the charge and the evidence supporting it, submitted to the Disciplinary Council.
Is the accused member summoned before the Disciplinary Council?
Yes. The Council issues its decision after calling the accused to appear before it.
More articles on Disciplining Prosecution Members
- Article 14
The article states that Public Prosecution members may not be tried except under the conditions and rules specific to their discipline.
لا تجوز محاكمة أعضاء الهيئة، إلا وفق الشروط والقواعد الخاصة بتأديبهم.
- Article 15Amended (1436 AH)
The article places discipline of Public Prosecution members with a three-member Disciplinary Council in the Authority's council, named by its head, deciding by majority, with decisions final only on the Authority's council 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 head of the Inspection Department or his delegate brings the disciplinary case at the Attorney General's request, after an investigation by a member named by the Public Prosecution Council who outranks the member or is senior to him.
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 20
The article allows the Disciplinary Council to conduct the investigations it considers necessary or assign 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 with the trial, to order the accused suspended from performing his duties, and to review 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 case lapses on the Public Prosecution member's resignation, and that it does not affect the criminal or civil case 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.