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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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Kuwait Extradites Fugitive Musaed Al-Musaileem After 10 Years Abroad

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KUWAIT CITY, May 31: After a decade on the run, fugitive Musaed Al-Musaileem was extradited to Kuwait on Friday evening, following his arrest by Malaysian authorities based on an international warrant issued through Interpol. He arrived in Kuwait aboard a Kuwait Airways flight via Doha, where the plane made a brief transit stop.

Kuwaiti security forces took custody of Al-Musaileem upon his arrival at Kuwait International Airport, completing all detention procedures. Authorities have since begun formal investigations in preparation for his trial.

First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef issued a stern warning to those living abroad who engage in activities aimed at harming Kuwait. He cautioned that such individuals will inevitably return, but with disgrace, unable to stand with dignity among their fellow citizens.

Sheikh Al-Yousef said, “Those who left Kuwait and believed that distance gave them the license to attack, fabricate, and harm must now reflect on their actions. They should consider the fate of those who came before them. There is no escaping justice.”

He continued, “There is a stark difference between someone who returns to their homeland with honor, with knowledge, a degree, or a prestigious award  and one who returns in shame, having betrayed their country and attacked its people and leaders.”

The minister also highlighted Kuwait’s continued support and generosity toward its citizens and expats, expressing dismay at those who choose to overlook or disparage these efforts. “Justice stands above all, and the arm of the law is long. Anyone who thought Kuwait was an easy target will discover, sooner or later, that Kuwait does not forget those who harm it,” he said.

Reiterating his message, Sheikh Al-Yousef concluded with a warning to those who have strayed: “You will return… but do not return with a black face.”

Al-Musaileem, who fled Kuwait in 2015, has been sentenced to over 30 years in prison across six separate cases. Notably, his name had been included in the 2023 amnesty list — an opportunity he declined, choosing instead to remain in exile.

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Tragedy Strikes as Two Domestic Workers Attempt Suicide in Kuwait

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KUWAIT CITY, May 31: In a tragic incident, a domestic worker was found dead after reportedly hanging himself inside a stable in the Mina Abdullah area.

According to a security source, the worker’s sponsor contacted the Ministry of Interior after being unable to reach him since the day before. Upon visiting the stable, the sponsor discovered the worker had taken his own life by hanging in his room. Security forces, forensic experts, and a representative from the Public Prosecution arrived at the scene. Authorities have opened a case and assigned detectives to carry out the necessary investigations.

In a separate incident, another domestic worker, holding residency under Article 20, attempted suicide by cutting her wrist at her sponsor’s home in the Fahaheel area. A security source reported that the sponsor’s wife alerted authorities after discovering the worker had injured herself. She was immediately transferred to Al-Adan Hospital for medical care. An investigation has been launched to determine the reasons behind her suicide attempt. Preliminary information suggests that the worker may face deportation.

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Student Defending Bullying Victim Stabbed Six Times by Classmates

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KUWAIT CITY, May 31: A violent assault involving two tenth-grade students has left a classmate seriously injured and hospitalized in the intensive care unit at Al-Adan Hospital. The attack, classified as a felony assault, was recorded by Abu Halifa Police Station and has sent shockwaves through the local school community.

According to security sources, the incident occurred on Thursday shortly after students finished their final exams at a school in the Mangaf area. The two suspects confronted their classmate near a grocery store just outside the school premises. In a sudden and calculated assault, each of the attackers wielded a knife and stabbed the victim six times, once in the upper chest, once in the back, and once in the left hand, among other wounds.

Preliminary investigations suggest the motive was retaliation. The victim had earlier intervened to defend a fellow student who was being bullied by the suspects for a speech impediment. He reportedly reprimanded them, urging them to stop their mockery and leave the classmate alone, an act of courage that may have provoked the violent reprisal.

The injured student was rushed to Al-Adan Hospital, where he was admitted to the ICU due to the severity of the stab wounds. Doctors later stabilized his condition and transferred him to a general ward.

Security forces acted swiftly, with detectives apprehending the suspects and referring them to the Juvenile Prosecution Office for further legal action.

Speaking on behalf of the victim, attorney Abdulrahman Al-Huwaishil condemned the attack and voiced concern over the growing trend of violence among students. He called on education and security authorities to address this alarming phenomenon with urgency.

“This was not just a schoolyard fight; it was a deliberate, premeditated act of violence,” said Al-Huwaishil. “We will seek the maximum legal penalties available to ensure justice is served and to deter future incidents of this nature.”

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