Article 22 of the Saudi Public Prosecution Law
المادة 22 من نظام النيابة العامة
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تنقضي الدعوى التأديبية باستقالة عضو الهيئة، ولا تأثير للدعوى التأديبية على الدعوى الجزائية أو المدنية الناشئة عن الواقعة نفسها.
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 22 explained in plain English
This article contains two important provisions:
- The disciplinary case lapses on resignation: if a member of the Authority resigns, the disciplinary case brought against him lapses and is no longer heard.
- Independence of the cases: the disciplinary case has no effect on the criminal case or the civil case arising from the same incident.
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.
The meaning of the second provision is that one act may give rise to more than one kind of liability: disciplinary liability as a member, criminal liability if the act is a crime, and civil liability if it harmed someone else. The lapse of the disciplinary case on resignation therefore does not in itself mean the criminal or civil case falls away, and the outcome of the disciplinary case does not affect them either.
This article follows Article 21, which allows the Disciplinary Council to suspend the accused from work when it decides to proceed with the trial. It is followed by Article 23, which provides that the Disciplinary Council's sessions are confidential and that the member has the right to defend himself in writing or by delegating a member of the Authority, and that judgment may be given in his absence after verifying that his summons was valid.
Someone harmed by the act of a Public Prosecution member, or a member facing a disciplinary and a criminal case together, should consult a lawyer specialized in criminal cases or a lawyer specialized in administrative cases.
Practical example
A disciplinary case was brought against a Public Prosecution member over an incident that is also a crime, and he submitted his resignation. The disciplinary case lapses on the resignation, but this does not affect the criminal case arising from the same incident, nor the right of the injured person in the civil case.
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 22 of the Saudi Public Prosecution Law
Does the disciplinary case end if a Public Prosecution member resigns?
Yes. The disciplinary case lapses on the resignation of the member of the Authority.
Does the criminal case lapse on a Public Prosecution member's resignation?
The article provides that the disciplinary case has no effect on the criminal or civil case arising from the same incident, and the lapse on resignation applies only to the disciplinary case.
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 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.
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.