Connect with us

Politics

Money laundering ring hit with KD 945mn fine

Published

on

 KUWAIT CITY, April 26: The Criminal Court, headed by Judge Al-Dhuwaihi Al-Dhuwaihi, sentenced 19 citizens and expatriates to prison terms ranging from three to 10 years on Thursday. The court also fined them and the involved companies around KD 945 million — double the amount obtained from the money laundering crime involving 29 individuals and nine companies. Their activities ranged from import and export to general trading, money exchange and food delivery. The court stated in its ruling that the defendants formed an organized criminal group through which they committed money laundering, using proceeds from crimes that harmed national interests. They committed forgery of bank and customs documents, fraud, customs evasion, violating provisions prohibiting the entry of goods into the country, deliberately violating due diligence measures, and possessing and selling prohibited imports.

The court ordered seven defendants to pay a joint fine of KD 510 million — twice the value of the laundered funds. It also ordered three defendants to pay a joint fine of KD 80,000 — equivalent to half the value of the laundered funds, and one defendant to pay a fine of KD 100,000 — equivalent to half the value of the laundered funds. The court also ordered the companies involved to pay a joint fine of KD 255 million (about $832 million) — equivalent to the total value of the funds involved in the crime. It ordered the deportation of the convicted expatriates after serving their prison terms, as well as the confiscation of forged documents, proceeds of the crime, and other income and benefits resulting from crimes and the funds involved in the money laundering scheme. According to the case documents, 21 defendants illegally collected cash in Kuwaiti dinars from others through an exchange company, whose administrative and financial affairs were overseen by one of the defendants. Another defendant delivered the funds to four other defendants at the headquarters of two of the implicated companies.

The funds were then received by the two defendants from the other defendants who deposited the money into the accounts of other implicated companies, as well as the accounts of the two other defendants. The funds were then transferred either through banks to companies outside Kuwait, with the knowledge of four defendants, or through exchange companies, with the knowledge of two defendants. Two defendants signed the remittance forms used to complete all financial transfers for two of the implicated companies in their capacity as directors of the companies. Three defendants assisted the others involved in the crime from which the funds in question were obtained by transporting the equipment used in the incident to the locations specified in the documents, to conceal evidence of the crime and help the defendants escape punishment. The defendants possessed and appropriated these funds and then used them to conduct foreign transfers to conceal and disguise the nature and truth of the illicit source of these funds, their ownership, and the rights related to them, as evidenced by the investigations.

By Jaber Al-Hamoud
Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff

Politics

Six Asians Arrested in Abdali for Running a Liquor Factory in the Desert

Published

on

By


KUWAIT CITY, Oct 13: Security personnel and detectives from Abdali conducted a successful raid on an illegal liquor factory located in a remote desert area of Abdali, arresting six Asian nationals who were operating the facility.

According to a security source, the operation followed a period of close surveillance and investigation after authorities received information about the illicit activity. During the raid, officers discovered a large number of barrels used in the distillation process, along with various tools, equipment, and materials used in the production of alcohol. Additionally, numerous bottles of locally made liquor, already filled and prepared for sale, were seized from the site.

Upon interrogation, the six arrested individuals reportedly confessed to manufacturing the liquor and distributing it for sale. Both the suspects and the confiscated materials have been referred to the relevant authorities for further legal action.

It is worth noting that in August, the Ministry of Interior arrested 67 individuals linked to the production and sale of locally made alcoholic beverages during raids on ten illegal factories — six dedicated to manufacturing and four operating within residential and industrial areas.

Continue Reading

Politics

61-Year-Old Arab Expat Found Dead Inside Workplace

Published

on

By

KUWAIT CITY, Oct 13: A 61-year-old Arab expatriate was found dead last night after reportedly committing suicide by hanging himself with a rope inside his workplace in the Al-Mutlaa area. A Kuwaiti citizen alerted the Ministry of Interior’s Operations Room after discovering the body. Upon receiving the report, security personnel, detectives, forensic experts, and the Deputy Public Prosecutor immediately rushed to the scene. The Deputy Public Prosecutor ordered the removal of the body and its referral to the Forensic Medicine Department for examination. He also instructed security officers to register the case as a “suicide” and directed detectives to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident.

Continue Reading

Politics

Hearing put off in wife murder case

Published

on

By

KUWAIT CITY, Oct 13: The Criminal Court adjourned to October 27 the case filed against a citizen who is accused of murdering his wife in Mutla’a desert on the first day of Eid al-Fitr. According to the case files, the defendant lured his wife to a remote area in Mutla’a and deliberately ran her over with his vehicle, causing her immediate death. Security forces arrested the defendant a few hours after the crime. He was referred to the Criminal Court after the Public Prosecution completed its investigation and charged him with deliberate and premeditated murder.

By Jaber Al-Hamoud Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff

Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2025 SKUWAIT.COM .