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Arrests made as Ya Hala raffle fraud suspicion grows

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KUWAIT CITY, March 24: An Egyptian woman was arrested at Kuwait International Airport on Monday while attempting to leave the country, following suspicions surrounding her recent raffle win. According to security sources, the woman had transferred ownership of the prize — a car — to her husband, also of Egyptian nationality, before he rushed her to the airport in an apparent attempt to help her flee to Egypt. Further investigations revealed that she does not hold a driver’s license, raising concerns about the legitimacy of her win. Her husband was also arrested earlier in the day for questioning regarding his potential involvement in the alleged fraud.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry has launched an official investigation into suspected manipulation in one of the Kuwait Shopping Festival raffles, Al- Seyassah daily reported. Undersecretary Ziad Al-Najem has referred the case to the Public Prosecution for further examination. Sources revealed that the referral letter highlighted suspicions that a ministry representative may have manipulated the prize draw, an allegation that, if proven, could damage consumer trust and the credibility of such events.

In response to the controversy circulating on social media, the ministry issued a statement confirming that it had taken immediate legal steps to verify the claims. It also announced the temporary suspension of prize distributions and is coordinating with relevant authorities to complete the investigation and audit process. The ministry reiterated its commitment to ensuring the transparency and integrity of commercial raffles, emphasizing that it would take strict action against any violations that could undermine public confidence.

Additionally, the Criminal Investigations Department has arrested an employee of the ministry in connection with the case. The suspect has been referred to the Public Prosecution as investigations continue. In light of the ongoing investigation, the management of the Ya Hala Kuwait Shopping Festival issued a statement reaffirming its commitment to transparency, integrity, and fairness in all its activities. The festival has temporarily suspended the distribution of prizes for the eighth raffle draw to verify its compliance with legal standards, in coordination with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The statement emphasized that all raffle draws are conducted under the supervision of the Ministry, with full participation from relevant government agencies. Ministry representatives oversee the entire raffle process independently, ensuring that the draws are free from external interference.

To ensure full public accountability, all draws are documented and broadcast live on Kuwait’s state television and streamed on the festival’s YouTube channel, with coverage also provided across various news outlets and social media platforms. The festival management also pledged that upcoming draws will continue to adhere strictly to legal regulations and government guidelines. They called on authorities to take the strictest legal action against any attempt to undermine the process and stressed that these measures are essential to maintaining public trust and safeguarding the festival’s esteemed reputation. In conclusion, the Ya Hala Festival management expressed gratitude to participants and the public for their trust, affirming that transparency, credibility, and fairness would always remain the core values of the Kuwait Shopping Festival.

Meanwhile, The official spokesman for the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Abdullah Al-Harz, reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to strengthening public and consumer trust. He emphasized that the recent suspicions surrounding one of the shopping festival’s prize draws are unacceptable and that those responsible will be held accountable.

To address these concerns, the Ministry has taken several internal measures as of Monday, March 24, 2025:

Formation of a Fact-Finding Committee:
Minister of Commerce and Industry, Khalifa Al-Ajeel, has issued a decision to establish a fact-finding committee to investigate violations related to previous prize draws. The committee will be led by Mr. Adnan Abel, Chairman of the Kuwait Lawyers Association.

Management Reshuffle:
Following the directives of His Excellency the Minister, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Ziad Al-Najem, has ordered a rotation of managers within the Control and Consumer Protection Affairs Sector.

Enhanced Oversight and Future Safeguards:
A new committee has been formed to supervise all current and future prize draws and to develop improved systems and mechanisms to prevent any future irregularities.

Additionally, the Minister of Commerce has submitted a referral to the Attorney General containing new information regarding the suspicions raised during the prize draws. This follows a previous referral the Ministry made to the Public Prosecution yesterday.

In conclusion, Al-Harz stressed the Ministry’s dedication to upholding the law by cooperating fully with security and investigative authorities. The Ministry will continue to provide updates and information to ensure that all necessary actions are taken to maintain and restore public confidence in its procedures and operations.

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Woman Accused Of Witchcraft And Fraud Acquitted

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KUWAIT CITY, May 10: The Misdemeanor Appeals Court has overturned a previous conviction sentencing a woman to one year in prison with hard labor on charges of fraud and practicing witchcraft. The court instead acquitted her of all charges, citing insufficient evidence and flawed procedures.

The case stemmed from allegations by the Public Prosecution that the woman had defrauded multiple individuals by claiming to possess supernatural powers, including the ability to predict the future. She reportedly charged 300 Kuwaiti dinars per session and allegedly operated out of her private residence.

According to testimony from an officer with the Anti-Money Laundering Crimes Department, the investigation began following a tip-off from a confidential source. Acting on a prosecution warrant, detectives staged a sting operation using marked cash. After a session was conducted inside the defendant’s home and payment was exchanged, authorities raided the premises. During the search, items suspected of being used in sorcery were recovered, including a dried seahorse, paper talismans, bullets, incense, stones, herbs, and marked money.

In her defense, attorney Enaam Haidar argued that the search and arrest were procedurally invalid, the evidence lacked credibility, and the case was based on speculative accusations. She also emphasized her client’s consistent denial of the charges throughout the investigation. After reviewing the case, the Appeals Court concluded that the prosecution had failed to establish criminal intent or provide concrete proof of fraudulent activity, resulting in a full acquittal.

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Firefighters contain apartment blaze in Al-Raqi without major injuries

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Firefighters contain apartment blaze in Al-Raqi without major injuries

Firefighters work to extinguish a blaze at an apartment building in Al-Raqi on Friday morning.

KUWAIT CITY, May 10: Firefighters successfully brought a blaze under control at an apartment building in the Al-Raqi area on Friday morning, according to the Kuwait Fire Force.

Fire brigades from the Shuwaikh Industrial and Al-Ardiya fire stations responded to the scene, where they swiftly began operations to combat the fire and prevent its spread within the building.

Authorities confirmed that the incident did not result in any significant injuries.

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804 Traffic Violations, 21 Arrests: MOI Crackdown Hits Sabah Al-Salem

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KUWAIT CITY, May 9 : As part of ongoing efforts to apprehend law violators and uphold the law, the Ministry of Interior conducted a comprehensive security and traffic campaign in the suburb of Sabah Al-Salem on Thursday, May 8, 2025. The operation involved the participation of several departments, including the Traffic Affairs and Operations Sector (represented by the General Traffic Department), the General Department of Rescue Police, the Central General Department of Operations, the Public Security Sector, the Private Security Sector, and the Women’s Police.

The campaign led to the following outcomes:

  • Issuance of 804 various traffic violation citationsn
  • Arrest of 6 individuals for violating residency and labor lawsn
  • Arrest of 10 individuals wanted by the authoritiesn
  • Detention of 5 individuals without identification documentsn
  • Seizure of 6 vehicles wanted by the judiciaryn
  • Arrest of one individual found to be in an abnormal conditionn

The Ministry of Interior reaffirmed that such campaigns will continue across all regions of the country to ensure law enforcement and public safety. The ministry urged all residents to cooperate with security personnel and report any suspicious or illegal activities by calling the emergency number (112).

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