KUWAIT CITY, March 24: In a renewed effort to combat corruption, the Criminal Security Sector—represented by the General Department of Criminal Investigation’s Licensing Department—in collaboration with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, has successfully apprehended a network involved in manipulating Ya Hala raffle draw. The operation was launched after a video surfaced on social media showing an individual cheating during a raffle draw.
Through extensive investigations, authorities identified the individual in the video as Ahmed Mohammed Al-Hamad, the Head of the Raffle Department at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. It was discovered that he had abused his position to systematically rig multiple raffles organized by prize-promoting companies, ensuring specific individuals would win in exchange for financial gains.
Further investigations uncovered a well-organized network that meticulously tampered with numerous draws. Among the beneficiaries was Fatima Gamal Saad Diab (Egyptian national), an employee of the Al-Najat Charity Committee, who fraudulently won five cars in her name. Additionally, two cars were illicitly awarded to her husband, Muhammad Abdul Salam Muhammad Al-Gharabli (Egyptian national), an employee of Bab Al-Kuwait Press Company.
After securing legal authorization, security forces arrested Ahmed Mohammed Al-Hamad. Fatima Gamal and her husband, Muhammad Abdul Salam, were also taken into custody while attempting to flee the country via Kuwait International Airport.
