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Money laundering ring hit with KD 945mn fine

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 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

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Shocking Number of Expats Caught in Dawn Sweep in Kuwait

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KUWAIT CITY, July 24: Kuwaiti authorities launched a major pre-dawn raid in the densely populated area of Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh on Thursday, arresting dozens of individuals in a sweeping operation targeting illegal residents and law violators.

Acting on direct orders from First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef, and under the supervision of Acting Undersecretary Major General Ali Al-Adwani, heavily armed units from the General Department of Special Forces Security descended on the area just before sunrise.

The operation was personally overseen by Brigadier General Dakhil Al Dakhil, Director General of Special Forces Security, and Brigadier General Yousef Al Souri, Director of Operations. A full security cordon was established around key locations known to harbour illegal residents and suspected criminals.

According to security sources speaking to Al-Rai, the raid led to the arrest of dozens of violators, with infractions ranging from immigration offences to more serious concerns.

Among those detained:

– 18 individuals with expired residency permits

– 111 absconding cases

– 112 individuals with active arrest warrants

– 12 persons with no identification documents

– 1A juvenile caught driving without a licence

– 1One person was found in a suspected intoxicated state, possibly under the influence

Authorities say the crackdown is part of an ongoing campaign by the Ministry of Interior to reinforce law and order, particularly in areas known for illegal labour and unregulated housing. Officials have promised that security operations will continue in the coming days, warning that employers and sponsors who shelter or employ violators will also face legal consequences.

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Kuwait cracks down: 168 wanted and 92 residency offenders caught in one week

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Kuwait cracks down: 168 wanted and 92 residency offenders caught in one week

Emergency Police during a security campaign in Kuwait.

KUWAIT CITY, July 24: The General Department of Emergency Police reported a significant crackdown during its security and traffic campaigns over the past week, resulting in the arrest of 168 wanted individuals, including those with criminal records, absconders, and expatriates with expired residency permits.

Authorities also detained 92 expatriates for expired residency, 24 individuals found without official identification, and 56 additional wanted persons categorized as absconders or under other arrest warrants. Additionally, 55 vehicles wanted by the judiciary were seized.

The campaigns addressed a total of 2,465 various traffic violations, alongside managing 158 collision and injury accidents, and 976 collision-only accidents.

A security source confirmed that the Traffic Affairs Sector continues to carry out around-the-clock enforcement operations with unwavering commitment. The sector pursues violators rigorously, imposes strict security measures, and applies the law firmly and without leniency.

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Vicious Assault on Two Doctors in Kuwait

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KUWAIT CITY, July 23: The legal representative of the Kuwait Medical Association, Attorney Elaf Al-Saleh, has strongly condemned the assault on two doctors by an individual as they were leaving their workplace after completing their duties.

Al-Saleh described the attack as a flagrant violation of both legal and moral standards, emphasizing that it constitutes a full-fledged crime under Kuwaiti law. She stressed that such acts not only harm the doctors involved but also undermine the integrity and dignity of the healthcare sector as a whole.

“This assault is a direct affront to the principles of professional and workplace security, and stands in stark contrast to the ethical and humanitarian values that define any civilized society,” she said.

Highlighting the gravity of the incident, Al-Saleh noted that what makes the attack even more egregious is that it targeted medical professionals who were simply fulfilling their sacred duty to save lives and relieve human suffering.

She confirmed that all necessary legal actions—both criminal and civil—have been initiated against the perpetrator.

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