Politics

Arrests made as Ya Hala raffle fraud suspicion grows

Published

6 months ago

March 24, 2025

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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.

Related Topics:Arrests fraud grows Hala Raffle suspicion

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Kuwait Cracks Down on Unlicensed Juvenile Drivers: 79 Arrested in Traffic Sweep

Published

16 hours ago

September 9, 2025

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Kuwait Cracks Down on Unlicensed Juvenile Drivers: 79 Arrested in Traffic Sweep

A file photo from a previous traffic campaign in Kuwait.

KUWAIT CITY, Sept 9: Traffic officers arrested 79 juveniles for driving without a license over the past seven days. They were referred to the Juvenile Prosecution and the necessary legal action was taken against them. The weekly statistics of traffic patrols indicated that 31,395 traffic violations were recorded, 29 vehicles impounded and 65 individuals referred to traffic detention.
The statistics also revealed the seizure of 66 wanted vehicles and arrest of 66 individuals wanted by law for absconding. Moreover, 126 Residency Law violators were arrested and three individuals were referred to the Drug Control General Department. The statistics indicated that the department dealt with 1,179 traffic accidents, resulting in 180 injuries. A security source reiterated the call for parents to closely monitor their children and prevent them from driving without a license to avoid legal accountability

By Munif Naif
Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff

Politics

Illegal Mobile Vehicles and Shops Targeted in Kuwait’s Ahmadi Clean-Up Drive

Published

1 day ago

September 9, 2025

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KUWAIT CITY, Sep 9: Under directives from His Excellency, the Minister of State for Municipal Affairs and the Director General of Kuwait Municipality, the Ahmadi Governorate branch has launched a series of campaigns aimed at improving cleanliness and eliminating unauthorized operations across the governorate.

Kuwait’s Public Cleanliness and Road Works Department in Al-Ahmadi has intensified efforts to tackle illegal garages and abandoned vehicles. Authorities closed one square using concrete barriers to curb unauthorized activities, issued seven violations, removed 10 abandoned vehicles, and issued 39 warnings to offenders in the Fahaheel and Fintas areas. These measures highlight the municipality’s commitment to public order and cleanliness.

The General Cleanliness and Road Occupations Department, represented by the Fahaheel Cleaning Center, conducted inspections in the Fahaheel Industrial Area, removing two vehicles and issuing 16 violations against shops operating without proper municipal licenses.

A second campaign is underway in the Fintas area, particularly around Fintas Park, where authorities found several companies operating with valid Ministry of Commerce licenses. However, one food truck was removed for failing to obtain the required commercial license.

Muhammad Al-Hajri, Head of the Fahaheel Center, emphasized that daily operations will continue to ensure the eradication of illegal mobile vehicles and unlicensed shops, while maintaining the general appearance of Ahmadi Governorate.

As part of the ongoing initiative, authorities have closed one of the openings in Fahaheel’s Block 8, restricting access to heavy machinery such as trucks and trailers. Vehicles currently in state-owned yards are being tagged and removed as necessary. A new state-owned yard has also been established in the Fahaheel Industrial Area to support these enforcement efforts.

The campaign underscores the municipality’s dedication to maintaining cleanliness, enforcing regulations, and improving public spaces throughout Ahmadi Governorate.

Politics

Kuwait Municipality Cracks Down on Unlicensed Advertisements in Ahmadi

Published

1 day ago

September 9, 2025

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Kuwait Municipality Cracks Down on Unlicensed Advertisements in Ahmadi

Municipality inspection teams during the Ahmadi campaign.

Municipality employees issue warnings to violators.

Municipality inspectors record violations during the Ahmadi campaign.

KUWAIT CITY, Sept. 9: The Kuwait Municipality recorded 47 advertisement violations during the launch of its first field inspection campaign in Ahmadi Governorate, the municipality announced on Monday.

The campaign, aimed at checking shops’ health and advertisement licenses, seeks to ensure compliance with regulations governing commercial and advertising activities.

Head of the inspection team in Ahmadi, Abdulaziz Al-Azmi, said in a press statement that the tours focus on verifying the validity of advertisement licenses and taking necessary regulatory measures against violators.

He stressed that failure to issue or renew advertisement licenses, or breaches of advertisement regulations, could lead to fines of up to KD 5,000. Violation reports will be issued in such cases, he added.

Al-Azmi explained that the Ahmadi campaign will be followed by similar inspections in all governorates, according to a timetable prepared by the Public Relations Department in coordination with the relevant authorities.

He urged shop owners to comply with municipal laws and regulations, noting that inspection teams from safety departments across the six governorates remain committed to enforcing the Kuwait Municipality’s systems through regular field campaigns.