Article 26 of the Saudi Public Prosecution Law
المادة 26 من نظام النيابة العامة
The article provides that the Disciplinary Council's decisions are submitted to the Public Prosecution Council for consideration, with termination of service carried out by royal order and reprimand by decision of the Attorney General.
Official text after amendments (Arabic)
Compiled from the original text and every officially published amendment; the amendments are shown in full below for comparison.
ترفع قرارات مجلس التأديب إلى مجلس النيابة العامة؛ للنظر فيها ، ويصدر أمر ملكي بتنفيذ عقوبة إنهاء الخدمة، وقرار من النائب العام بتنفيذ عقوبة اللوم
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 26 explained in plain English
This article regulates what follows the Disciplinary Council's decision, that is, how the decision is reviewed and how it is carried out:
- Review: the Disciplinary Council's decisions are submitted to the Public Prosecution Council for consideration.
- Carrying out termination of service: this is by royal order.
- Carrying out a reprimand: this is by decision of the Attorney General.
These are the two disciplinary penalties set by Article 25. The difference in the means of carrying them out reflects the difference in the gravity of the two penalties.
Amendments: the current text was issued by Royal Decree No. (M/125) dated 14/9/1441 AH. The earlier wording, issued by Royal Decree No. (M/31) dated 13/4/1436 AH, provided that the Disciplinary Council's decisions are communicated to the "Supervisor", that a royal order is issued to carry out the penalty of termination of service, and that the Supervisor issues a decision to carry out the reprimand on the recommendation of the head of the Authority. The current text has the decisions submitted to the Public Prosecution Council for consideration, has the reprimand carried out by decision of the Attorney General, and gives no role to the Supervisor.
It is followed by Article 27, which makes the Attorney General responsible for the administrative and financial supervision of the Public Prosecution, with the Minister's powers over its employees and staff.
A member of the Public Prosecution against whom a disciplinary decision has been issued should consult a lawyer who specializes 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 26 of the Saudi Public Prosecution Law
Who carries out the penalty of terminating a Prosecution member's service?
A royal order is issued to carry out the penalty of termination of service.
Who carries out the reprimand?
It is carried out by decision of the Attorney General.
To whom are Disciplinary Council decisions submitted?
They are submitted to the Public Prosecution Council for consideration.
Amendment history
Royal Decree No. M/31 — 13/4/1436 AH
Official amendment text (Arabic)
تم تعديل هذه المادة بموجب المرسوم الملكي رقم ( م/31) وتاريخ 13 / 4 / 1436 هـ ، لتكون بالصيغة الآتية :
"المادة السادسة والعشرون:
تبلغ قرارات مجلس التأديب إلى المشرف، ويصدر أمر ملكي بتنفيذ عقوبة إنهاء الخدمة، وقرار من المشرف بتنفيذ عقوبة اللوم بناءً على توصية رئيس الهيئة."
Royal Decree No. M/125 — 14/9/1441 AH
Official amendment text (Arabic)
- عُدلت هذه المادة وذلك بموجب المرسوم الملكي رقم (م/125) وتاريخ 1441/9/14هـ، لتصبح بالنص الآتي: "ترفع قرارات مجلس التأديب إلى مجلس النيابة العامة؛ للنظر فيها ، ويصدر أمر ملكي بتنفيذ عقوبة إنهاء الخدمة، وقرار من النائب العام بتنفيذ عقوبة اللوم".
Original text before the amendments (Arabic)
تبلغ قرارات مجلس التأديب إلى وزير الداخلية ، ويصدر أمر ملكي بتنفيذ عقوبة الإحالة على التقاعد، وقرار من وزير الداخلية بناء على توصية رئيس الهيئة بتنفيذ عقوبة اللوم.
More articles on Disciplining Prosecution Members
- Article 14
The article provides that members of the Public Prosecution may not be tried except under the conditions and rules for their discipline.
لا تجوز محاكمة أعضاء الهيئة، إلا وفق الشروط والقواعد الخاصة بتأديبهم.
- Article 15Amended (1436 AH)
The article makes discipline of Public Prosecution members the responsibility of a three-member Disciplinary Council within the Authority's Council named by its head, deciding by majority; its decisions are final only with the Council's 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 article provides that the head of the Inspection Department or his delegate brings the disciplinary action at the Attorney General's request, after an investigation by a member the Council appoints who is senior in rank or seniority to the member investigated.
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 action to be brought by a memorandum containing the charge and its evidence, submitted to the Disciplinary Council to issue its decision after inviting 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 carry out necessary investigations or appoint 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 to trial, to order the accused suspended from performing his post's work, and to reconsider 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.