Article 20 of the Saudi Public Prosecution Law
المادة 20 من نظام النيابة العامة
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 المنسوبة أو بعضها كلف المتهم بالحضور في وقت كاف، ويجب أن يشتمل التكليف بالحضور على بيان كاف لموضوع الدعوى وأدلة الاتهام.
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 20 explained in plain English
This article regulates the investigation stage before the Disciplinary Council and the move to trial:
- Investigations: the Disciplinary Council may conduct whatever investigations it considers necessary, and may assign one of its members to do so.
- Decision to proceed with the trial: if the Council sees grounds to proceed with the trial procedures, whether on all of the charges attributed or on some of them, it summons the accused to appear.
- Safeguards for the summons:
- it must give sufficient time for the accused to prepare; and
- it must contain an adequate statement of the subject of the case and the evidence of the accusation.
The article does not fix a number of days for this "sufficient time", but leaves it to the Council's assessment according to the circumstances. The fact that it may proceed on some of the charges means that the Council may set aside what it finds no ground for and go ahead with the rest.
This article precedes Article 21, which allows the Disciplinary Council, when it decides to proceed with the trial procedures, to order the accused suspended from performing the duties of his post, and to review the suspension order at any time. Article 19, which precedes it, deals with the guarantees on arresting and detaining a member in flagrante delicto cases.
A Public Prosecution member who is summoned to appear before the Disciplinary Council 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.
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Frequently asked questions about Article 20 of the Saudi Public Prosecution Law
Does the Disciplinary Council investigate itself?
Yes. It may conduct whatever investigations it considers necessary, and may assign one of its members to do so.
What must the summons to appear before the Disciplinary Council contain?
It must be given in sufficient time and contain an adequate statement of the subject of the case and the evidence of the accusation.
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 18
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.
ترفع الدعوى التأديبية بمذكرة تشتمل على التهمة الموجهة والأدلة المؤيدة لها، وتقدم إلى مجلس التأديب ليصدر قراره، بدعوة المتهم بالحضور أمام المجلس.
- 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.