Saudi Justice Minister and Chairman of the Supreme Judicial Council Sheikh Dr. Walid bin Mohammed al-Samaani has given suspects in major crimes, who lack sufficient financial means, access to a lawyer to defend them in court. The expenses will covered by the state, reported the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) on Monday.
The minister said that the court could comply with the suspect’s demand for a defense lawyer by first accepting his request and then sending a memo to the Ministry of Justice.
A meeting will then be set up to choose a proper attorney for the suspect.
The lawyer will be paid a maximum of SR5,000 and minimum of SR3,000 per trial session on condition that the cumulative sum not exceed SR100,000 for all sessions, explained the minister according to SPA.
Should there be more than one suspect in a single crime, then the appointed lawyer will be paid the same rate stipulated above per session for the primary suspect and an addition SR2,000 for each other suspect.
The cumulative sum of all trial sessions in these cases should not exceed SR150,000.
