Article 19 of the Saudi Public Prosecution Members Regulation
المادة 19 من لائحة أعضاء هيئة التحقيق والادعاء العام والعاملين فيها
Article 19 sets the tasks of the Inspection and Follow-up Department: inspecting members' work, investigating complaints by or against them, and inspecting staff, through a member of higher rank or seniority.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تتولى دائرة التفتيش والمتابعة في الهيئة ما يأتي:
1 - التفتيش على أعمال أعضاء الهيئة ومتابعتها، وذلك بجمع البيانات التي تؤدي إلى معرفة درجة كفايتهم، ومدى حرصهم على أداء واجبات وظائفهم.
2 - التحقيق في الشكاوى التي يقدمها أعضاء الهيئة، أو تقدم ضدهم بعد إحالتها إلى دائرة التفتيش والمتابعة من رئيس الهيئة، أو من يفوضه.
3 - التفتيش على أعمال موظفي الهيئة من غير الأعضاء ومتابعتها.
ويكون التفتيش والتحقيق المشار إليهما في الفقرتين (1) و(2) بوساطة عضو مرتبته أعلى من مرتبة العضو المفتِّش عليه، أو سابق له في الأقدمية إن كانا في مرتبة واحدة، ويكون التحقيق والتفتيش على أعضاء الهيئة في المقر الرئيس للهيئة، أو بالانتقال إلى مقر عمل العضو المراد التفتيش عليه، أو من خلال دوائر المتابعة في الفروع والمحافظات، وذلك بناءً على ما يراه رئيس الهيئة.
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 19 explained in plain English
Article 19 sets out the powers of the Inspection and Follow-up Department established by Article 18, which are three:
- Inspecting and following up the work of the Authority's members, by collecting data that leads to knowing their degree of competence and how keen they are to perform their job duties.
- Investigating complaints submitted by the Authority's members or against them, after they are referred to the Department by the head of the Authority or whoever he delegates.
- Inspecting and following up the work of the Authority's employees who are not members.
The article sets two safeguards for inspection and investigation in paragraphs (1) and (2):
- Who carries it out: a member of higher rank than the member inspected, or senior to him if they are of the same rank.
- Where it is carried out: at the Authority's main headquarters, or by going to the member's workplace, or through the follow-up departments in the branches and governorates, as the head of the Authority sees fit.
The Department, under Article 18, consists of a head and full-time members chosen by the Authority's council. It is followed by Article 20, which requires members to be inspected once or at most twice a year. A person who was investigated on a complaint without these safeguards being observed may consult a lawyer specializing in administrative cases (the Board of Grievances).
Practical example
A citizen submitted a complaint against one of the investigators at the Authority's branch in Jeddah. The head of the Authority referred the complaint to the Inspection and Follow-up Department, and a member of higher rank than the investigator complained against carried out the investigation, going to his workplace as the head of the Authority saw fit.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
How we write and review contentAdministrative Law lawyers: ask a specialist about your case
Describe your situation briefly and we'll suggest a lawyer who specialises in this law
Administrative Law (Board of Grievances) lawyers
Lawyers who handle this kind of case
Dr. Ali Al-Rubaie Law Office and Ittihad Al-Asr Legal Company
Al-Safwa Law Office and Legal Consultancy
Frequently asked questions about Article 19 of the Saudi Public Prosecution Members Regulation
Who investigates complaints against members of the Investigation Authority?
The Inspection and Follow-up Department, after the complaint is referred to it by the head of the Authority or whoever he delegates, through a member of higher rank or, if of the same rank, senior to him.
Can a colleague of the same rank inspect an investigator?
He may, if he is senior to him in the same rank; otherwise he must be of higher rank.
Where is an Authority member inspected?
At the Authority's main headquarters, or by going to the member's workplace, or through the follow-up departments in the branches and governorates, as the head of the Authority sees fit.
More articles on Inspection of Authority Members
- Article 15
Article 15 sets the rules for promoting members of the Authority: seniority up to Head of Department (B), efficiency and achievements for higher ranks, an inspection requirement, and effect of promotion on taking up work.
1- تراعى في ترقية أعضاء الهيئة إلى مرتبة رئيس دائرة تحقيق وادعاء (ب) فما دون ترتيب الأقدمية في المرتبة، وعند التساوي يقدم الأكفأ بموجب تقارير الكفاية، وعند التس
- Article 18
Article 18 establishes an inspection and follow-up department in the Authority, made up of a head and full-time members chosen by the Authority's Council, linked to the head of the Authority, with follow-up departments in branches where needed.
تُنشأ في الهيئة دائرة للتفتيش والمتابعة، تتكون من رئيس وعدد كاف من الأعضاء المتفرغين يختارهم مجلس الهيئة، وللمجلس أن يندب أعضاء آخرين من الهيئة للقيام بالتفتيش،
- Article 20
Article 20 requires members of the Authority to be inspected once or at most twice a year.
يجب إجراء التفتيش على أعضاء الهيئة مرة أو مرتين على الأكثر في السنة.
- Article 21
Article 21 sets four grades for rating a member's competence: distinguished, above average, average, below average.
يكون تقدير كفاية عضو الهيئة بإحدى الدرجات الآتية: متميز، فوق المتوسط، متوسط، أقل من المتوسط.
- Article 22
Article 22 obliges the Inspection Department to notify the member of his report and competence rating, lets him object within 30 days, and the Authority's council decides the objection by a final decision.
1- تُبلغ دائرة التفتيش والمتابعة عضو الهيئة بالتقرير وتقدير كفايته، وتبلغه كذلك بكل ما يودع في ملفه، وله أن يقدم لدائرة التفتيش والمتابعة اعتراضه على ذلك خلال (
- Article 23
Article 23 gives the Authority's council the power to set members' duties and prohibited acts and to issue the rules and procedures for inspecting their work and evaluating their performance.
يحدد مجلس الهيئة واجبات أعضاء الهيئة، والأعمال المحظورة عليهم، ويصدر قواعد وإجراءات التفتيش على أعمالهم وإجراءات تقويم أداء الأعضاء.
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.