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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 Authorities Crack Down On Shop And Advertising Violations In Jahra

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KUWAIT CITY, Sep 15: During a recent field campaign, Kuwait Municipality’s inspection teams in Jahra Governorate took regulatory action against several businesses, closing two shops, issuing 40 advertising violations, and handing out 28 warnings.

According to the Public Relations Department, the Audit and Follow-up Department of the Municipality’s Services in Jahra carried out the inspections to review health licenses for shops and advertising permits, ensure compliance with regulations, and take corrective action against violators.

The department confirmed that this was the third field campaign conducted in Jahra Governorate by the specialized inspection team. The team carried out thorough inspections across multiple areas, focusing on locations where violations had been observed, and implemented necessary measures to enforce the law.

Authorities added that the campaign is part of a broader plan, with future inspections scheduled across all governorates. The Public Relations Department, in coordination with relevant departments, has prepared a timetable for upcoming campaigns to ensure regulatory compliance throughout Kuwait in the coming weeks.

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Court upholds jail sentence for defaming Kuwait’s Amir on ‘X’

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KUWAIT CITY, Sept 15: The Court of Cassation, headed by Justice Sultan Buresli, on Sunday upheld the conviction of a defendant accused of publicly insulting His Highness the Amir and defaming him on the social media platform ‘X.’ The court sentenced the defendant to one year and eight months in prison with hard labor. The ruling closed the final stage of litigation in this case, after investigations proved that the defendant used his account to broadcast offensive statements that harmed His Highness the Amir. The court considered this act a violation of the Constitution and the law.

Meanwhile, the Court of Appeals on Sunday upheld the acquittal ruling in the case of publishing false news related to the ban on former MP Shuaib Al-Muwaizri’s entry into the country. A number of former MPs and bloggers are involved in the case. The Criminal Court previously acquitted all defendants of the charges against them, including publishing false news, harming national interests, and misusing their phones. These charges stemmed from tweets circulating allegations about Al-Muwaizri’s entry ban.

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

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Traffic team uses social media and surveillance to track violators

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Traffic team uses social media and surveillance to track violators

Specialized team observes traffic violations through social media and surveillance cameras.

KUWAIT CITY, Sept 15: A source in the General Traffic Department confirmed that a specialized team is actively monitoring traffic law violations appearing on social media platforms, in addition to those recorded by surveillance cameras installed on public roads.

The source explained that the monitoring team identifies vehicles involved in violations, summons their owners, and refers them to the impound garage while issuing traffic citations. In cases where the vehicle owner fails to appear voluntarily, the matter is referred to the Traffic Investigation Unit to take the necessary legal measures.

The source added that any individual accused of a violation has the right to review the footage or evidence — whether it was shared on social media or recorded by surveillance cameras.

The source further noted that during the past week, eight vehicles were documented as recklessly violating traffic regulations. Among these cases was one in which a driver deliberately harassed another motorist by closely tailing the vehicle, then overtaking and driving at an extremely slow speed in front of it, obstructing traffic and endangering both drivers. Another incident involved a driver swerving against the flow of traffic on a highway.

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