Article 28 of the Saudi Public Prosecution Members Regulation
المادة 28 من لائحة أعضاء هيئة التحقيق والادعاء العام والعاملين فيها
Article 28 bars the Authority's employees from disclosing secrets they learn of through their work, and the bar continues even after they leave service.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
لا يجوز لموظفي الهيئة إفشاء الأسرار التي يطّلعون عليها بحكم عملهم ولو بعد تركهم للخدمة.
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 28 explained in plain English
Article 28 establishes a duty of keeping secrets on the Authority's employees, and its elements are:
- Who is addressed: the Authority's employees, as the text is worded generally.
- The subject of the ban: secrets they learn of through their work.
- Duration: the ban continues even after they leave service, so the end of the employment relationship does not lift the obligation.
The restriction "through their work" means the ban concerns what reached the employee because of his post. The ban continuing after leaving service means the former employee remains bound to keep secrets.
The article does not specify the penalty for disclosure, nor define what counts as a secret, as it is limited to establishing the ban.
The article comes after Article 27, which provides that the civil service laws apply to the Authority's employees who are not members, subject to what is stated in the Regulation; this ban is one of the provisions stated in the Regulation. It is followed by Article 29, which provides that this Regulation replaces the previous regulation issued by Council of Ministers Resolution No. (140) dated 13/8/1409 AH.
A person accused of disclosing information he learned of in his work at the Authority, whether still in post or after leaving it, may consult a lawyer specializing in administrative cases (the Board of Grievances).
Practical example
Sami worked as a researcher at the Authority, then resigned and joined a private company. A year later he was asked to speak about the details of a case he learned of during his work. Under this article he remains barred from disclosing those secrets despite having left service.
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 28 of the Saudi Public Prosecution Members Regulation
May an investigation authority employee disclose secrets after resigning?
No. The ban on disclosing secrets he learned of through his work continues even after he leaves service.
What secrets are barred from disclosure?
The secrets the Authority's employees learn of through their work.
More articles on Authority Staff Who Are Not Members
- Article 26
Article 26 requires those appointed to the Authority as recording and registry clerks, researchers, experts and translators to pass an exam set by the Authority's council, and appoints them on a two-year probation.
مع عدم الإخلال بما يتضمنه نظام الخدمة المدنية من شروط التعيين؛ يشترط فيمن يعين في الهيئة من كتاب الضبط وكتاب السجل والباحثين والخبراء والمترجمين ونحوهم أن ينجح
- Article 27
Article 27 applies the civil service laws to the Authority's employees who are not members, subject to what is stated in this Regulation.
تطبق على موظفي الهيئة من غير الأعضاء أنظمة الخدمة المدنية، وذلك مع مراعاة ما ورد في هذه اللائحة.
- Article 29
Article 29 provides that this Regulation replaces the Regulation of Members of the Investigation and Public Prosecution Authority and Its Staff issued by Council of Ministers Resolution No. (140) dated 13/8/1409 AH.
تحل هذه اللائحة محل لائحة أعضاء هيئة التحقيق والادعاء العام والعاملين فيها، الصادرة بقرار مجلس الوزراء رقم (140) وتاريخ 13/ 8/ 1409هـ.
- Article 30
Article 30 provides that this Regulation of Members of the Investigation and Public Prosecution Authority and Its Staff is published in the Official Gazette and takes effect from the date of its publication.
تُنشر هذه اللائحة في الجريدة الرسمية، ويعمل بها من تاريخ نشرها.
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.