Hunt launched for ‘hacker’ targeting state institutions

Mentally-ill woman rapist caught; Man blackmails for sex

KUWAIT CITY, Feb 11: Just after 24 hours after penetrating the website of the Interior Ministry, the same hacker is said to have managed to access the site of the Public Authority for Housing Welfare (PAHW), reports Al-Shahed daily.

According to reliable sources affirmed Kuwait’s Interior Ministry is coordinating efforts with its Saudi counterpart to identify the hacker who is targeting state institutions.

It was reported earlier on Saturday that personnel from the Cybercrimes Department are looking for a hacker who broke into the Interior Ministry site yesterday morning and posted a picture on the ministry website with the nickname ‘aBo 6re5m’ (Abo Treikhm), reports Al-Anba daily.

A security source said the detectives have ‘repaired’ the site to prevent any theft, manipulation of information. The info systems personnel and electronic investigators are trying to trace and seize the hacker.

The Public Relations and Security Media Department at the Ministry of the Interior has issued a statement saying the Ministry’s Internet page has been returned to normalcy after thwarting an attempt by the hacker to penetrate.

The department also said the concerned security systems have blocked the attempt to break into the page as a precautionary measure in accordance with the established strategy and plans to deal with such contingencies.

The General Administration of Information Systems said the site returned to work in record time without any damage. The administration added, the main database of the Ministry of Interior is safe because it is not linked to the site.

However, the Al-Rai daily said the hacker entered the site while browsing and managed to control a page through malware and played some singing and dancing video clips. However, he was stopped and prevented from logging in again.

Rapist arrested: The public security officers, in cooperation with the Farwaniya police have arrested the Syrian man who was wanted by law for sexually assaulting a mentally retarded young woman a few days ago, reports Al-Anba daily.

During interrogation the Syrian admitted to the charge and said he wanted to marry the woman.

The daily added, the Syrian is in police custody and will be referred to the Public Prosecution.

A security source said as planned the Syrian has not been sent to the Deportation Centre because the father of the victim has filed a complaint and insists the man should be punished before he is deported.

Woman blackmailed: The Jahra police have arrested a Kuwaiti after a compatriot woman accused him forcing her into sex and threatened to get her involved in a scandal if she refused, reports Al-Rai daily.

When police checked the man’s record, they discovered he is a criminal and has been in jail several times. He is also wanted by law to serve a 10-year term in an unidentified case.

Police reportedly raided an apartment which was rented by the suspect to commit immoral acts, seized him and sent him to the Central Prison.

Two workers faint: Two workers fell unconscious due to inhalation of chemicals while painting a pump and pipes inside a room in the basement of a house in Khaldiya area with a special material used for avoiding leakage of water. One of the firefighters who rescued the workers was also affected by the chemicals, says Al-Seyassah.

When the Control Room of Kuwait Fire Service Directorate (KFSD) received information that two laborers fell unconscious inside a room in the basement of the house in Khaldiya area, firefighters were dispatched to the location with paramedics and securitymen.

They discovered the victims lying unconscious inside the room which had a pump used for pumping water to the swimming pool of the house. They were using a special material to paint the pump and pipes in order to stop any water leakage.

Paramedics referred the two victims to the nearest hospital along with one of the firefighters who was also affected by the chemicals.

A team of officers who are specialized in dealing with toxic substances was summoned to the location for examining the material that was used for painting the pipes and pump.

The team revealed that the material contains chemicals in high concentration due to which it cannot be used in closed areas but only in well-ventilated places.

Necessary action was taken to deal with the situation.