Article 19 of the Saudi Public Prosecution Law

This article sets out special guarantees when criminal proceedings are taken against a member of the Authority, and distinguishes between two cases:

First: flagrante delicto

• If the member is arrested and detained, the matter must be referred to the Authority's management committee within the following 24 hours.
• The committee may decide to continue the detention, or to release him with or without bail.
• The member may ask to have his statements heard before the committee when the matter is put to it.
• The committee sets the period of detention in its decision, and the same procedures are followed whenever it is considered that pretrial detention should continue after the set period has ended.

Second: cases other than flagrante delicto

The member may not be arrested, no investigation procedure may be taken against him, and no criminal case may be brought against him, except with the permission of the committee mentioned.

Place of detention and execution: members are detained, and custodial penalties are executed against them, in separate places.

The article uses the words "the Authority" and "members of the Authority" as worded, and what is meant by them in this Law is the members of the Public Prosecution.

These guarantees do not mean exemption from criminal liability, but regulate its path. They differ from the disciplinary case regulated by Article 18, which is brought by a memorandum containing the charge and the evidence before the Disciplinary Council. Article 20, which follows, allows the Disciplinary Council to conduct whatever investigations it considers necessary.

In any criminal case of this kind, it is advisable to consult a lawyer specialized in criminal cases.