Court upholds 5-year sentence for man obsessed with stalking, molesting schoolgirls.

KUWAIT CITY, July 23: The Second Circuit of the Court of Appeal, presided over by Judge Nasr Salem Al-Haid and including Judges Saud Al-Sanea and Tariq Metwally, has upheld a five-year hard labor prison sentence for a man convicted of repeatedly harassing and molesting female high school students.

The defendant faced charges from the Public Prosecution for indecent assault, including inappropriate physical contact, persistent harassment, and attempting to lure a minor into immoral acts. The case came to light after he targeted a high school girl outside an association’s branch, touching her without consent. Initially dismissing it as accidental, the victim realized his intent when he repeated the act and later pressured her to add him on Snapchat while making inappropriate advances.

Upon learning of the incident, the victim’s father filed a formal complaint. Surveillance footage revealed the accused loitering near the school branch, deliberately targeting schoolgirls in uniform —particularly high school students — before following and assaulting them. A police ambush led to his arrest, and during interrogation, he confessed to the crimes, admitting to an “obsession with harassing female students in school uniforms.”

While the Criminal Court initially sentenced him to five years of hard labor, the Court of Appeal dismissed appeals for a suspended sentence in its first hearing. In a subsequent session, the court affirmed the original ruling, citing the soundness of the lower court’s decision and the inadequacy of the defendant’s defense.

KUWAIT CITY, July 23: Under the directives of His Excellency the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Sheikh Fahd Yousef Saud Al-Sabah, and as part of the Ministry of Interior’s intensified campaign to combat human trafficking and illegal residency practices, the General Department of Residence Affairs Investigations has uncovered a large, organized network involved in issuing residency permits illegally in exchange for money.

The case came to light following a complaint filed by a Pakistani resident who reported paying 650 Kuwaiti Dinars to a man named Yasser Bilal Muhammad, also a Pakistani national, in return for securing a residency permit.

The accused was summoned and confessed to receiving the payment for processing the residency. Further investigations revealed that he was a partner in 11 companies, collectively employing 162 workers. When several workers registered under these companies were questioned, they admitted to paying between 500 and 900 dinars for residency permits.

Additionally, some individuals admitted to paying 60 to 70 dinars extra to have false salary information added to their work permits—an act that enabled them to qualify for family residency visas.

During the investigation, Fahad Al-Enezi, the authorized signatory of the 11 companies, was also summoned. He admitted to receiving monthly payments between 500 and 600 dinars, and stated that he used the “Sahel” application to access work notifications and permits via the Public Authority for Manpower.

A total of 12 suspects have been referred to the Public Prosecution, and ongoing investigations include raids, seizures, and inspections at the offices of the involved companies. Legal and administrative measures are being prepared against all individuals found to be complicit in this fraudulent network.

KUWAIT CITY, July 22: Six firefighting teams swiftly responded to a massive blaze that broke out at a warehouse on a farm in the Kabd area Tuesday afternoon. Thanks to their coordinated efforts, the fire was brought under control and fully contained, preventing further spread and damage. Authorities confirmed that no major injuries were reported in the incident.