KUWAIT CITY, July 23: Under the directives of His Excellency the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Sheikh Fahd Yousef Saud Al-Sabah, and as part of the Ministry of Interior’s intensified campaign to combat human trafficking and illegal residency practices, the General Department of Residence Affairs Investigations has uncovered a large, organized network involved in issuing residency permits illegally in exchange for money.

The case came to light following a complaint filed by a Pakistani resident who reported paying 650 Kuwaiti Dinars to a man named Yasser Bilal Muhammad, also a Pakistani national, in return for securing a residency permit.

The accused was summoned and confessed to receiving the payment for processing the residency. Further investigations revealed that he was a partner in 11 companies, collectively employing 162 workers. When several workers registered under these companies were questioned, they admitted to paying between 500 and 900 dinars for residency permits.

Additionally, some individuals admitted to paying 60 to 70 dinars extra to have false salary information added to their work permits—an act that enabled them to qualify for family residency visas.

During the investigation, Fahad Al-Enezi, the authorized signatory of the 11 companies, was also summoned. He admitted to receiving monthly payments between 500 and 600 dinars, and stated that he used the “Sahel” application to access work notifications and permits via the Public Authority for Manpower.

A total of 12 suspects have been referred to the Public Prosecution, and ongoing investigations include raids, seizures, and inspections at the offices of the involved companies. Legal and administrative measures are being prepared against all individuals found to be complicit in this fraudulent network.

KUWAIT CITY, July 22: Six firefighting teams swiftly responded to a massive blaze that broke out at a warehouse on a farm in the Kabd area Tuesday afternoon. Thanks to their coordinated efforts, the fire was brought under control and fully contained, preventing further spread and damage. Authorities confirmed that no major injuries were reported in the incident.

KUWAIT CITY, July 22: The Criminal Court, headed by Counselor Nasser Al-Badr, released on bail of KD500 a citizen — one of 13 individuals under trial for trafficking in unlicensed firearms and ammunition, in addition to money laundering. The hearing was postponed until Sept 15 to summon the incident officer. Attorney Dhari Al-Tararwa, who appeared in court on behalf of the citizen, presented comprehensive legal arguments. He requested his client’s release, asserting that there are no justifications for the pretrial detention and that there is no danger in releasing the accused. The court granted the request.

The Public Prosecution charged the defendants with possession of various firearms, like pistols and Kalashnikov machine guns, and unlicensed ammunition for trafficking, as well as money laundering, in which the money involved is estimated at thousands of Kuwaiti dinars proven to have been obtained through illegal activities. Case files indicate that the defendants’ roles varied, some were involved in the possession and trafficking of firearms, while others assisted and participated in the agreement and planning. The case documents include details regarding communications, weapons distribution, and methods of transferring funds.

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