Okaz/Saudi Gazette

RIYADH – The Supreme Judiciary Council and the Public Prosecution are carrying out investigation into the charges of bribery and money laundering allegedly committed by eight judges, while a criminal court has started trial proceedings of one of the judges, who are the chief of a court in a region, Okaz/Saudi Gazette has learned from well informed sources.

The Bureau of Investigation and Prosecution is examining the charges against them. The charges also include dereliction of duty, abuse of judicial authority, absence from work without legal excuse, and delaying court procedures. The accused judges had reportedly submitted earlier their replies in connection with the charges to the Judicial Disciplinary Committee.

According to the sources, the procedures for the trial of the chief judge of a court in one of the regions have already been started. The judicial immunity of the judge has been suspended to facilitate the smooth flow of the procedures and subsequently he was arrested recently.

The judge has been accused of corruption while in office, and the charges included bribery and money laundering. A court session was held during which the court listened to the charges and examined the defendants’ defense notes.

There had been coordination between the Supreme Judiciary Council and the competent authorities whereby it was decided to suspend the judicial immunity of the accused so as to enable the authorities to arrest him and keep him in custody.

Necessary permission has been accorded to the Public Prosecution to investigate him and complete the criminal procedures required by the case in accordance with the law.

Sources told Okaz/Saudi Gazette that the security authorities arrested the accused judge at dawn, and a sum of money and mobile phones were seized from him. The judge’s accomplices were also nabbed at the moment of his arrest.

According to the sources, the Supreme Judiciary Council, represented by its Judicial Inspection Department, investigates any job violations from the part of judicial officials.

It has handed over some of those involved in cases of financial corruption to the Public Prosecution after their judicial immunity was suspended.

The department is tasked to monitor the violations, take the necessary actions in connection with them, and refer them to the Council’s Disciplinary Circuit for consideration in accordance with the provisions of the judicial system.

The circuit has the jurisdiction to take disciplinary actions, including dismissal from the judiciary service or turning down any disciplinary actions after disproving of the charges.