Saudi Gazette report JEDDAH – The Department of Public Prosecution has received 8,388 cases during the last two weeks of April (April 15-29). It looked into 8,541 cases and passed 5,492 of them to the court for judicial action. Members of the department have taken 221,601 measures on these cases. The first week of Shaaban 1439H (April 15-22) witnessed 4,167 cases while the second week saw 4,221 cases. The department has completed investigation into 4,293 cases in the first week and 4,248 cases in the second week, said a report issued by the department. It said 2,070 officers took part in the prosecution procedures and activities. Riyadh region reported the largest number of cases during the month followed by Makkah region and the Eastern Province with Riyadh representing 32.4 percent of cases in the first week and 30.8 percent in the second week. The department’s Makkah regional offices reported 22.1 percent of cases in the first week and 26.3 percent in the second week. The department’s offices in the Eastern Province received 10.3 percent cases in the first week and 11.2 percent in the second week, followed by Asir, Jazan and Qassim regions. During the month of Rajab (March-April), the department received 20,412 cases. After looking into 19,154 cases they passed 11,548 cases to courts after conducting 488,739 measures. Riyadh region accounted for 32.2 percent cases followed by Makkah 22.5 percent and the Eastern Province 12.1 percent, the report explained. The department has instructed its officers that they should deal with the suspects decently. In a Twitter message, the department said the accused should be dealt with dignity and should not be harmed physically and mentally. “The accused person should be informed of the reason for detention. He will have the right to contact his kith and kin to inform about the detention while an employee should be allowed to contact his boss to inform him about prolonged detention,” said the Tweet. Criminal investigation officers should hear the accused. If there are enough evidences he should be sent to the investigation department. The accused should be either kept in detention or released within 24 hours after investigation, the Tweet said. “No individual should be arrested or detained except after receiving orders from relevant authorities and if involved in a crime. Criminal investigation officers should inspect the place where the crime occurred and take necessary information and evidences about the incident,” it said. “If a person did not cooperate with investigators it should be mentioned in the report and the case should be passed to the court,” the department said. Involvement in a crime includes being its witness, his presence near the incident and holding any weapon or other evidences.