The Public Prosecution assumed the responsibility of investigating traffic offenses and violations as of Sunday. According to a royal decree issued in June, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz ordered the changing of the name of the Bureau of Investigation and Prosecution (BIP) to Public Prosecution. Under the royal decree, the Public Prosecutor's Office would function directly under the King's authority to guarantee its autonomy. The Ministry of Justice has announced the establishment of traffic courts to hear traffic-related cases through the judicial bodies operating under its jurisdiction. These bodies are competent to adjudicate such cases. The Public Prosecutor's Office is coordinating with the General Directorate of Traffic to transfer the applicable competencies to it, according to sources. They explained that the law allows the Prosecution to investigate crimes, decide whether to file a case or not in an investigation, prosecute before judicial bodies, appeal judgments, and supervise the carrying out of criminal sentences.
