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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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578 Vehicles Cited for Wrong Overtaking in Kuwait

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KUWAIT CITY, Oct 17: The General Traffic Department issued 578 tickets for wrong overtaking on Thursday through surveillance cameras and traffic intersections.

A security source stated that vehicles involved in these violations cannot have their fines cleared, and hence their vehicles will be impounded for up to two months. Notifications will appear on the Sahel app within hours of violations, and some violators have already been alerted.

The source highlighted the significant role of overhead surveillance cameras at intersections, complemented by patrol units and modern cameras installed near intersections, in monitoring such traffic violations.

Citizens and expats were urged to adhere strictly to traffic regulations to avoid penalties, with authorities stressing that they will continue to take firm action against offenders.

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Two Asian Expats Arrested in Ahmadi for Drug Trafficking Worth KD 200,000

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KUWAIT CITY, Oct 17: In a major anti-narcotics operation, the Ahmadi Governorate Investigations Department, under the Ministry of Interior’s Criminal Security Affairs Sector, has arrested two Asian nationals accused of trafficking and distributing drugs within Kuwait.

The arrests came as part of the Ministry’s ongoing efforts to combat the spread of narcotics and pursue those involved in promoting and smuggling drugs. According to a security source, the department had received precise intelligence indicating that the suspects were actively engaged in drug distribution activities in the Ahmadi area.

A specialized security team was immediately formed to verify the information and conduct surveillance. After days of close monitoring, investigators tracked the suspects’ movements and successfully apprehended them in possession of a large quantity of illicit substances.

The search and seizure operation led to the confiscation of:

  • 3.658 kilograms of methamphetamine
  • 557 grams of chemical substances
  • 363 grams of marijuana
  • 348 grams of heroin
  • 14 grams of hashish
  • 8,150 psychotropic pills

The total market value of the seized drugs is estimated at approximately KD 200,000.

Both suspects, along with the confiscated materials, have been referred to the competent authorities for necessary legal action before being handed over to the Public Prosecution.

The Ministry of Interior reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to confronting drug smuggling and distribution operations, emphasizing that security agencies will continue their firm stance against this menace that poses a grave threat to the nation’s security and the safety of its citizens and residents.

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Quick Response Prevents Major Damage in South Saad Al-Abdullah Factory Fire

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KUWAIT CITY, Oct 17: Firefighting teams from Al-Tahrir and Al-Jahra Al-Haraf centers successfully brought under control a fire that broke out on Friday afternoon in a tank containing petroleum derivatives at a concrete and asphalt factory in South Saad Al-Abdullah City.

The teams quickly responded to the incident, worked to extinguish the flames, and prevented the fire from spreading to nearby areas. Thanks to their prompt action, the blaze was contained without any significant injuries reported.

Authorities are investigating the cause of the fire.

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