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Raffle Rigging Scandal: 58 Under Investigation, Airport Arrests Continue

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KUWAIT CITY, March 28: A security source informed that the number of individuals under investigation in the recent Ya Hala raffle fraud case has risen to 58, including 25 expatriates of various nationalities. The source revealed that the primary suspect in the case was presented before the Public Prosecution the day before yesterday. During the hearing, he was confronted with the evidence gathered by detectives, and a decision was issued to extend his detention pending further investigation.

According to the source, all individuals linked to the case—whether Kuwaiti citizens or expatriates, including those under suspicion or those who won prizes multiple times in previous years—have been placed on travel ban or arrest lists. The source described the case as complex, noting that some individuals have already been summoned for questioning, while others will face the same procedure in due course.

Attempts to Flee Thwarted
The source added that anyone implicated in the raffle scam who attempts to leave the country will be intercepted at the airport and transferred to the Criminal Investigations Department. Notably, three suspects were recently arrested at the airport while trying to flee. In the past few hours, joint task forces from the Ministries of Interior and Commerce have been formed to identify and place all suspects—citizens and expatriates alike—on travel ban lists.

Confessions and Key Findings
During interrogation, the main suspect admitted that his association with the accused woman and her husband began in 2021. He disclosed that he facilitated her first prize win of 20,000 dinars and five additional prizes, including luxury vehicles. He also enabled her husband to win cash and in-kind rewards. The suspect further revealed that his initial connection to the couple was through an expatriate who has since fled to his home country.

Forensic analysis of the main suspect’s and the accused’s phones uncovered communications with individuals from two other countries. Investigators found that the accused had received prizes from these countries, with most of the prize money being funneled back to her.

Ongoing Manhunt and Further Investigations
The source confirmed that other key suspects remain at large, and legal measures have been taken to authorize detectives—armed with prosecution orders and initial investigation reports—to locate and interrogate them. In the coming days, investigation teams will pursue fugitive suspects, including the main suspect’s accomplice, an employee who escaped last Sunday morning. While his identity is known, authorities have declined to disclose his current whereabouts.

Scrutiny of Past Winners
All past winners of major raffle prizes will be summoned for questioning to determine how much money was withdrawn from their accounts immediately or shortly after their wins—and where those funds were directed.

Assurances to the Public
The source reassured Kuwaiti citizens and expats that the case is being handled with utmost diligence, emphasizing that all involved parties—inside or outside Kuwait—will be pursued. Strict measures are in place to prevent suspects from leaving the country, as all ports have been provided with updated travel ban lists.

Additional Revelations
Detainees have provided statements implicating others, including an expatriate of a different nationality, whom the main accused allegedly helped win four prizes. This individual has since been arrested. When asked whether the main suspect acted alone, the source replied, “At this stage, it appears so, but the fugitive expatriate’s testimony may reveal additional accomplices.”

The total value of the cash and in-kind prizes uncovered is estimated to be in the hundreds of thousands of dinars. Investigators also discovered software on the main suspect’s computer capable of rigging raffle outcomes, allowing him to predetermine winners even among tens of thousands of participants.

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Three injured in vehicle collision and fire on Jahra Road

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Three injured in vehicle collision and fire on Jahra Road

Kuwait firefighting team tackles vehicle fire on the Jahra Road.

KUWAIT CITY, July 1: Firefighting teams from the Shuwaikh Industrial Fire Station responded Tuesday morning to a collision and fire involving two vehicles on Jahra Road in the Shuwaikh area.

The incident resulted in injuries to three individuals. Emergency teams swiftly managed the situation, and the injured were handed over to medical emergency services for treatment.

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Fake UK Apartments Scam Lands Kuwaiti Woman In Jail

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KUWAIT CITY, June 30: The Court of Cassation has sentenced a Kuwaiti businesswoman to four years in prison with hard labor and fined her 1,152,000 Kuwaiti dinars after convicting her of defrauding several citizens. She falsely claimed to offer residential apartments in the UK for Kuwaiti students, convincing parents that she owned properties near British universities. In exchange for reserving these non-existent units, she collected large sums of money. Investigations revealed that she operated the fraudulent scheme in partnership with an Egyptian accomplice who fled the country once the scam was uncovered. Despite the exposure, she continued her fraudulent activities until her arrest. She was later charged with fraud and money laundering. The Court of Cassation upheld the lower court’s ruling, confirming her guilt and making the verdict final.

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Expat Ends Life by Slashing Vein in Kuwait’s Al Waha

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KUWAIT CITY, June 30: An expatriate tragically took his own life in the Al Waha area by slashing his vein, resulting in severe bleeding. The motive behind the suicide remains unknown.

According to a security source, the incident was reported by a friend of the victim to one of his colleagues. Upon receiving the alert, emergency services promptly dispatched an ambulance to the scene. Paramedics confirmed that the expatriate had used a sharp knife to inflict the fatal wounds.

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