Politics

Kuwait Airport Employee Cleared of Passport Forgery

Published

3 months ago

May 9, 2025

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KUWAIT CITY, May 8: The Court of Appeal has upheld a ruling by the Criminal Court acquitting an employee at the Kuwait International Airport Passports Department, who had been accused of falsifying passenger entry and exit records in the Ministry of Interior’s automated system. The accusations stemmed from the escape of a wanted fugitive who allegedly used a passport resembling that of the employee.

The ruling, however, did include sentencing the fugitive (in absentia) and his lookalike to four years in prison with hard labor. The court also ordered their deportation after they completed their sentences.

The case dates back to July 2024 when a detective arrested a fugitive with a history of fraud charges. The fugitive, however, was nowhere to be found. Upon questioning the fugitive’s mother, it was revealed that he had left the country using a passport that closely resembled his lookalike’s.

During investigations, the lookalike admitted to lending his passport to the fugitive, who had a striking resemblance to him. The fugitive requested the passport in late 2023, and the lookalike handed it over, only to retrieve it a week after the fugitive’s departure. The lookalike also confirmed that he was aware of the fugitive’s criminal background, including his fraud charges.

The employee, however, denied any wrongdoing. He testified that he had properly documented the passport’s movement when the fugitive appeared before him, confirming the individual’s information before his departure. He claimed that he was unaware of any discrepancy and did not realize the passport was not the rightful owner’s due to the striking similarity between the two individuals.

In court, the employee’s defense attorney, Abdullah Al-Bulaihis, argued that there was no criminal intent behind his client’s actions, as the essential elements of the forgery crime were absent. He maintained that the employee had no prior knowledge of the fugitive and that there was no conclusive evidence linking him to any intentional alteration of the entry and exit records. Al-Bulaihis also presented a document proving that biometric fingerprint checks were not in place at Kuwait Airport during the incident and highlighted the similarities between the lookalike and the fugitive. He called for his client’s acquittal, which the court ultimately granted.

Related Topics:Airport Cleared Employee Forgery Kuwait Passport

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MoCI shuts salons, tyre shops, café for violations

Published

59 minutes ago

August 13, 2025

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KUWAIT CITY, Aug 13: The Commercial Control Department at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry launched intensive inspection campaigns targeting commercial establishments, resulting in the closure of 13 establishments, including beauty salons, used car tyre shops and a café. Director of the department Faisal Al-Ansari stressed that the ministry has never been lenient towards those who violate the regulations and laws. He revealed to the newspaper that inspection teams recorded serious violations, resulting in the closure of five women’s salons that used expired cosmetics and violation reports were issued against them.

He added the inspection teams closed five domestic worker recruitment offices, two used car tyre shops and one café for failure to comply with decisions and regulations. He said the department is keen on pursuing anyone who dares to violate the laws by intensifying inspection campaigns throughout the country; such that inspection campaigns will be carried out in industrial plots in the coming days to monitor the plots belonging to the ministry and take the necessary measures against violators.

By Marwa Al-Bahrawi
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10 expat workers found dead in Ahmadi, alcohol poisoning suspected

Published

11 hours ago

August 13, 2025

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10 expat workers found dead in Ahmadi, alcohol poisoning suspected

Alcohol poisoning suspected in deaths of 10 expatriate workers in Ahmadi.

KUWAIT CITY, Aug 13: A security source revealed to a local daily that 10 expatriate workers were found dead across 10 separate incidents in Ahmadi Governorate. According to the source, initial investigations suggest that alcohol poisoning may be the cause of death in all cases.

The Ministry of Interior is reportedly looking into the circumstances surrounding these deaths, as all the victims were expatriates working in the area. Further details on the investigation are awaited.

Politics

Kuwait Fire Force closes 55 non-compliant shops in Shuwaikh

Published

12 hours ago

August 13, 2025

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Kuwait Fire Force closes 55 non-compliant shops in Shuwaikh

A file photo of a shop being closed in Kuwait due to fire safety violations.

KUWAIT CITY, Aug 13: The General Fire Force (GFF) conducted a thorough inspection campaign in Shuwaikh Industrial Area 2 on Tuesday evening, in collaboration with key government entities, including the Ministry of Commerce, the Public Authority for Industry, and Kuwait Municipality.

The initiative aimed to identify buildings and facilities that were non-compliant with fire safety and prevention regulations.

As a result of the campaign, 55 industrial establishments and shops were administratively closed for failing to meet the required safety standards. In addition, 83 other establishments were issued notices for not adhering to the General Fire Force’s safety guidelines.