10 rulings on defendants’ rights take effect

By Adnan Al-Shabrawi

Okaz/Saudi Gazette

JEDDAH — On monitoring legal decisions, Okaz has found out that 10 decisions have taken effect for the first time.

The rulings were issued by the Ministry of Justice, Higher Judicial Council, Public Prosecution and the Supreme Court during the past four weeks.

The decisions stress the rights of detained persons and defendants during arrest, investigation, litigation, trial and appeal before the Supreme Court. These is apart from rights of workers, divorcees and non-Arabic speaking expatriates.

Okaz has learned that the Attorney General Sheikh Saud Al-Muajab recently issued a circular to the Public Prosecution branches stressing the importance of implementing Articles 120 and 121 of the Penal Procedures Regulation and its Executive Bylaw that stipulate releasing cases where their release is compulsory, if the conditions are fulfilled.

These decisions were preceded by the decision of the Minister of Justice Waleed Al-Samaani stressing the defendant’s right to take the help of a lawyer during the investigations and trial. This should be mentioned in the court’s deed, aside from providing a translator to those who are not fluent in Arabic.