Defendants in graft case win time from court

By Jaber Al-Hamoud

KUWAIT CITY, Sept 14: The Criminal Court presided over by Judge Ahmad Al-Yaseen adjourned to November 29 the case related to appropriation of public funds in the tender for construction of Jaber International Stadium.

The suspects were brought to the court. During the session, they denied all allegations of corruption leveled against them, requesting through their legal defense team the adjournment of the trial to review the case so that sufficient evidences to prove their innocence can be gathered.

The Public Prosecution had referred 30 government officials from Ministry of Public Works and Public Authority for Youth and Sports Affairs to the Criminal Court following investigations which revealed that the suspects committed various violations and irregularities in the handover and takeover of Jaber International Stadium. The Prosecution, in its report, requested imposing a fine of KD 8 million on the suspects.

‘Stormers’ hearing delayed:

The Court of Appeals adjourned to September 24 the announcement of the rest of the defendants in the State Security case filed against 70 Kuwaitis including nine former lawmakers who were accused of storming the National Assembly premises.

According to the case files, the Public Prosecution cited misleading evidences, inadequate inferences, manipulation of documents, and wrong application and distortion of the law as reasons for appealing the previous verdict which had acquitted all defendants from all charges leveled against them.

The Public Prosecution also urged the court to overrule the verdict issued by the lower court and instead impose harsh penalties on the defendants.

However, the defense team asked the court to listen to the testimonies of their witnesses.

It is worth mentioning that the lower court had acquitted all the defendants of the charges leveled against them, but the Public Prosecution appealed against the ruling.