Attorney General Dr Ali Al Buainain has issued a decision establishing the Environmental and Public Health Crimes Unit to investigate and act on reports of crimes stipulated in legislation related to the environment and public health committed across the kingdom.
The unit’s jurisdiction covers environmental crimes, crimes affecting natural resources, wildlife and marine resources, beaches and coasts, groundwater and surface water, sewage, public cleanliness, as well as crimes related to public health and other areas regulated by relevant environmental legislation.
The establishment of the unit forms part of the Public Prosecution’s efforts to strengthen specialised handling of cases requiring specific technical and legal expertise, thereby enhancing investigation efficiency and the effectiveness of law enforcement and prosecution of crimes that may affect the environment or public health.
Under the decision, the unit will also follow up cases before the courts, review and study judgments issued in such cases in co-ordination with the Court of Appeal Prosecution, prepare statistics and periodic reports on the cases it handles, monitor emerging methods and means of committing such crimes, and propose necessary measures or legislative developments to support national strategies, enforcement measures and investigative capabilities.
The unit will also co-ordinate with relevant authorities to develop mechanisms for combating environmental crimes and crimes related to public health and collecting evidence in such cases, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of judicial proceedings and ensuring that perpetrators are prosecuted in accordance with the law.
The Attorney-General also issued a decision appointing Senior Advocate Homam Adel Busaibeh as head of the Environmental and Public Health Crimes Unit and Senior Advocate Hassan Abbas Al Haddad as deputy head.
The establishment of the unit forms part of efforts to develop the Public Prosecution’s work system by building specialised expertise, strengthening integration with relevant authorities, and enhancing its capacity to address crimes of a technical and specialised nature, including emerging forms and methods of committing such crimes.
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