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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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Cops Catch Fleeing Suspect With Narcotics, Booze, And Big Cash

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Cops Catch Fleeing Suspect With Narcotics, Booze, And Big Cash

Seized items along with the accused were referred to the authorities

KUWAIT CITY, July 21: A man in his thirties was caught red-handed in a dramatic drug bust in Sharq area after trying to resist arrest.

Police patrols spotted the suspect behaving erratically while driving a four-wheel-drive vehicle. As officers approached, the man attempted to flee the scene, triggering a tense pursuit. But the chase didn’t last long; the patrol quickly forced the vehicle to a halt.

Upon searching the vehicle and the suspect, officers discovered a damning stash: two bottles of alcohol, a quantity of narcotics, and a suspicious bundle of KD 1,000 in cash. The man, described by police as being in an “intoxicated state,” was immediately arrested on suspicion of drug use and possession.

The seized items were confiscated, and the accused was handed over to the General Department for Drug Control, where he now faces serious charges related to drug and alcohol possession.

Police sources say the quick response and alertness of the patrol team helped prevent what could have been a dangerous situation on the road.

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Egyptian Stole Half a Million… Then Opened a Beauty Clinic — Now He’s in Kuwait Jail

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KUWAIT CITY, July 21: The Court of Cassation has sentenced an Egyptian national to 10 years in prison with hard labor for charges of breach of trust, embezzlement, and money laundering during his time as a financial manager at the Kuwait Teachers Association.

In addition to the prison term, the court ordered the defendant to pay a fine of approximately KD 1 million and ruled that he be deported from the country upon completion of his sentence.

The case dates back to 2018, when the accused was found to have manipulated the association’s accounts, repeatedly increasing his own salary, issuing unauthorized payments, and disbursing checks that bounced. Investigations revealed that he had exploited his position to issue five unapproved checks and embezzled over KD 500,000, which he funneled into a private business venture.

The stolen funds were allegedly used to open a cosmetic clinic, which generated over KD 400,000 in profits. The court viewed this as a clear case of laundering illicit gains under the guise of legitimate investment.

The final ruling brings an end to a high-profile case that highlighted serious breaches of financial oversight within the association.

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Domestic Worker in Critical Condition After Reported Suicide Attempt

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KUWAIT CITY, July 21: An expatriate man in his thirties, holding an Article 20 (Domestic Visa)  residence permit, was rushed to Jahra Hospital after a reported suicide attempt.

According to the Ministry of Interior, the operations room received an emergency call reporting that the worker had attempted to take his own life by slitting his wrist. He was immediately transferred for urgent medical treatment and has been placed under police guard pending further investigation. Authorities have launched an inquiry to determine the circumstances and motives behind the incident. Further details are expected once the investigation progresses.

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