Mutual legal assistance in criminal matters is one of the most effective means of international cooperation in the fight against crime, as international borders or foreign jurisdictions no longer constitute an impediment to justice.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has long recognized the importance of cooperation in the field of mutual legal assistance for the purpose of investigations or prosecutions in all crimes, in particular terrorism and its financing, money laundering, organized crime, drug smuggling and corruption, or for the implementation of various judicial and legal procedures, such as execution of letters rogatory, search and seizure or confiscation of proceeds of crime.
The Kingdom is party to a number of international and regional legal instruments that provide for mutual legal assistance and also cooperates with other states in this regard on the basis of reciprocity. One of the most prominent steps taken by the Kingdom in this regard is the establishment of (The Standing Committee for Legal Assistance Requests), as the authority responsible for implementing requests for legal assistance sent to the Kingdom by other states, or preparing legal assistance requests issued by the Kingdom in all crimes, in accordance with its respective laws and international legal instruments to which it is party.
The Standing Committee for Legal Assistance Requests consists of members representing the following bodies:
1- Ministry of Interior.
2- Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
3- Ministry of Justice.
4- Ministry of Finance .
5- Board of Grievances.
6- Public Prosecution.
7- General Intelligence Presidency.
8- Presidency of State Security.
9- National Anti-Corruption Commission.
10- The Communications and Information Technology Commission.
11- Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority.