Article 21 of the Saudi Public Prosecution Law
المادة 21 من نظام النيابة العامة
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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.
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 21 explained in plain English
This article deals with suspending a member of the Authority from work during disciplinary proceedings:
- Who may suspend: the Disciplinary Council.
- When: when it decides to proceed with the trial procedures, not before.
- Its nature: suspension is discretionary, that is, the Council may order it or not as it sees fit.
- Its content: suspending the accused from performing the duties of his post.
- Review: the Council may at any time review the suspension order, whether to cancel it or keep it.
Suspension here is a precautionary measure linked to the course of the trial, not a penalty. The article does not state the effect of suspension on the member's salary or benefits, so no ruling on that can be inferred from it.
This article is linked to Article 20, which regulates the Council's decision to proceed with the trial procedures on all or some of the charges attributed, and the summoning of the accused to appear in sufficient time with a statement of the subject of the case and the evidence. It is followed by Article 22, which provides that the disciplinary case lapses upon the member's resignation, and that the disciplinary case does not affect the criminal or civil case arising from the same incident.
A Public Prosecution member who is subject to a suspension order 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 21 of the Saudi Public Prosecution Law
Can a Public Prosecution member be suspended from work during discipline?
Yes. When it decides to proceed with the trial procedures, the Disciplinary Council may order him suspended from performing the duties of his post.
Can the suspension decision be cancelled?
Yes. The Council may at any time review the suspension order.
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 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 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.