MoI refers Education money-wash case to Prosecution; ‘probe done’
Senior officials involved, says CBK
KUWAIT CITY, Aug 14: The Financial Crimes Department of the Ministry of Interior has completed investigations into a money laundering case involving the Ministry of Education, reports Al-Rai daily.
The daily added, the case has now been referred to the Public Funds Prosecution, while the Education Ministry is said to have initiated action against one of the involved officials.
This happened after the Central Bank of Kuwait discovered money laundering at the Ministry of Education, involving senior officials. It was also said this happened with full knowledge of senior officials, all of whom were referred to the State Security department.
According to a security source, the Central Bank of Kuwait found out the money laundering was done in a novice manner through work orders and invoices for maintenance operations which did not happen.
The source said one of the officials in the ministry discovered fake work orders and maintenance bills, but turned a blind eye and did not inform the ministry until it was discovered by the Central Bank’s search and investigation unit and referred the entire case to the concerned authorities.
In a related context, the Deputy Attorney-General has summoned the Director of the Warehouses Department and two employees from the finance sector and an employee from the installations section of the libraries department for interrogation following the charges filed against them.
KD623m lost: Six hundred and twenty-three million dinars of public money has been lost in 47 cases involving ministries and government agencies. Some of these cases date back to 2010, reports AlQabas daily.
The sources added a number of these cases are still pending investigation and litigation procedures, pointing out persistent attempts have been made to prosecute the misappropriated funds abroad through cases handled by the Fatwa and Legislation Department.
The sources explained some of the cases have been dropped through court verdicts which were filed against state institutions. The sources added, some of the accused in cases of embezzlement are still outside the country, and the country faces many difficulties to extradite them to the country because of the refusal by some of the foreign government agencies.
Escape bid foiled: Police have arrested an unidentified Kuwaiti for damaging a police vehicle in a vain attempt to escape, reports Al-Rai daily.
The daily added at the time of the arrest there was a young Kuwaiti couple in the vehicle, reports Al-Rai daily.
A security source said the Ahmadi police on duty in Fahaheel ordered the man behind the wheel to pull over because he was driving recklessly.
The motorist ignored the police orders, continued driving and collided with the police vehicle and then a tree on the side of the road, and continued driving. He then helped the Kuwaiti couple to escape following which he was forced to stop.
At the time of arrest he was high on alcohol. Police have seized from his SUV some quantity of alcohol. In the meantime, CID men are looking for the young couple.