Court rejects petition against anti-graft authority

Hungarian acquitted of using liquor

KUWAIT CITY, Nov 9: The Constitutional Court, presided over by Justice Yousef Al-Mutawa, rejected the appeal filed by several judges and legal consultants to declare unconstitutional the law on establishing the Public AntiCorruption Authority (PACA).

The court pointed out the declaration of assets for judges does not breach their independence and withdraw their assurances. The court affirmed that the law is in the interest of the public as its role is to safeguard civil service work and protect public wealth.

The government’s defense panel, led by Attorney Ali Manawer, argued that PACA Establishment Law is derived from Article 47/2006 of the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC). Therefore, its constitutionality should not be determined separately from the international convention against corruption.

Manawer pointed out that Kuwait took only three aspects from the UN law: international arbitration, extradition of criminals and judiciary assistance. These should be sorted out only through the Ministry of Justice, so everything mentioned in Article 47/2006 is in effect, including the declaration of assets for civil servants.

Hungarian acquitted: The Court of Appeals overturned the First Instance Court’s verdict against a Hungarian accused of consuming intoxicants in a public place, refrained from issuing any ruling and acquitted the accused.

According to the police statement, a police officer spotted the defendant who appeared to be intoxicated and in his hand was a plastic cup which contained liquid substance which appeared like alcohol.

When police approached the defendant to inquire, the defendant said he has been drinking a little, although according to the forensic medical report, the defendant’s urine sample did not contain any trace of alcohol or its main ingredients.

In his defense was Attorney Abdul-Muhsin Al-Qattan who faulted the procedure taken by the arresting officer, saying it lacked legal ground so he asked the court to acquit his client.