Article 5 of the Saudi Protection of Whistleblowers, Witnesses, Experts and Victims Law
المادة 5 من نظام حماية المبلغين والشهود والخبراء والضحايا
Gives the program administration, by its decision and under the Law, the power to accept whistleblowers, witnesses, experts and victims into the program and to determine the type and duration of protection.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
لإدارة البرنامج بقرار منها -وفقاً لأحكام النظام- صلاحية قبول المبلِّغين والشهود والخبراء والضحايا في البرنامج وتحديد نوع الحماية المقدم لهم ومدته.
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 5 explained in plain English
After Article 4 established the protection program in the Public Prosecution, this article specifies who holds the decision in it: the program administration.
The program administration, by its decision and under the provisions of the Law, has three powers:
- Accepting whistleblowers, witnesses, experts and victims into the program.
- Determining the type of protection provided to them.
- Determining the duration of this protection.
This is consistent with the definition of "person covered by protection" in Article 1, which is a person for whom the program administration decides to provide any type of protection. A person becomes covered by protection by a decision of the program administration, and the type and duration of protection may differ from one person to another according to what it decides.
The phrase "under the provisions of the Law" means this power is exercised within the limits of what the Law provides. That includes what Article 6 provides: that the Public Prosecutor, on the recommendation of the program administration and on the principle of reciprocity, may approve requests of competent foreign authorities, received by the Permanent Committee for Legal Assistance Requests at the Ministry of the Interior, for providing protection to any whistleblower, witness, expert or victim in the territory of the Kingdom.
Practical example
Khalid, a witness in a serious crime case in Dammam, applied for protection. The program administration studies his case, then decides by its decision to accept him into the program, and determines the type of protection he receives and its duration.
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 5 of the Saudi Protection of Whistleblowers, Witnesses, Experts and Victims Law
Who decides to accept a witness into the protection program?
The program administration, by its decision and under the provisions of the Law.
Does every witness get the same protection?
The program administration determines the type of protection provided and its duration, so it may differ from one person to another.
More articles on Whistleblower and Witness Protection Program
- Article 1
Defines the Law's key terms, including whistleblower, witness, expert, victim, protection, covered crimes, the program and the person covered by protection.
يقصد بالألفاظ والعبارات الآتية -أينما وردت في هذا النظام- المعاني الموضحة أمام كل منها: النظام: نظام حماية المبلِّغين والشهود والخبراء والضحايا. اللائحة: اللائح
- Article 4
Establishes in the Public Prosecution a special program for protecting whistleblowers, witnesses, experts and victims, and refers its structure, administration, tasks and funding mechanism to the Regulations.
يُنشأ وفق أحكام النظام برنامج خاص في النيابة العامة يسمى "برنامج حماية المبلِّغين والشهود والخبراء والضحايا"، وتحدد اللائحة الهيكل التنظيمي للبرنامج وإدارته ومه
- Article 6
Allows the Public Prosecutor, on the program administration's recommendation and on reciprocity, to approve foreign authorities' requests to protect a whistleblower, witness, expert or victim in the Kingdom.
للنائب العام -بناء على توصية من إدارة البرنامج ووفقاً لمبدأ المعاملة بالمثل- الموافقة على طلبات السلطات الأجنبية المختصة التي تتلقاها اللجنة الدائمة لطلبات المس
- Article 8
The article allows the Attorney General to provide protection without consent, for no more than 30 days and extendable, to a person believed to face imminent danger, and to delegate some powers.
يجوز للنائب العام في حال توفر ما يبعث على الاعتقاد بإمكان تعرّض المبلِّغ أو الشاهد أو الخبير أو الضحية لخطر وشيك، توفير الحماية له دون موافقته، لمدة لا تزيد على
- Article 12
The article establishes a Security Department in each of the Ministry of Interior and the Presidency of State Security to apply protection or security escort for protected persons, leaving its tasks to the Implementing Regulations.
تنشأ وفق أحكام النظام إدارة أمنية في كل من: (وزارة الداخلية، ورئاسة أمن الدولة) يوكل إليها تطبيق الحماية أو المرافقة الأمنية للمشمولين بالحماية كلٌ فيما يخصه، و
- Article 13
The article requires the program administration, in coordination with relevant bodies, to protect the protected person from injury and ensure their health, safety and social adaptation, while respecting their rights and freedoms.
على إدارة البرنامج -بالتنسيق مع الجهات المعنية- اتخاذ الإجراءات اللازمة لوقاية المشمول بالحماية من الإصابة الجسدية، وضمان صحته وسلامته وتكيّفه الاجتماعي، طوال ف
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.