Court dismisses hoteliers petition in power cut case

Twist in corruption lawsuit

By Jaber Al-Hamoud

Agencies

KUWAIT CITY, Oct 6: The Constitutional Court presided over by Judge Yousef Al-Mutawa dismissed a complaint that was filed by a number of businessmen including Hamad Al-Tuwaijri and Ghazi Al-Nefaisi and a number of hotel owners through which they claimed that the reduction of electricity and water costs for the industrial and agricultural sectors is unconstitutional because the hotel sector is not included, which is against the principle of equality guaranteed by the Constitution of Kuwait.

The court said high electricity and water bills are the result of extravagant consumption and lack of responsibility concerning the importance of the two sources.

It stated that fixing prices for electricity and water usage for certain sectors is aimed to uphold public interest, adding that there is no discrimination in this case as both the industrial and agricultural sectors receive subsidy even though they provide services that are similar to that of the oil sector.

The court stressed that the fact that these prices are not applicable in the hotel sector does not have to be referred to the Constitutional Court, as it exceeds the basic responsibility of the court, which is judiciary in nature, while legislation is the responsibility

Al- Mutawa

of lawmakers.

Dramatic twist seen:

As the Prosecutors continue investigations and interrogations into the so-called ‘Hospitality’ lawsuit of the Ministry of Interior, sources close to the case say there have been dramatic developments with the detention for interrogation of Sergeant Major Abdullah Al-Hammadi, who was arrested by the Interpol in Bosnia and brought back to Kuwait, reports Al-Rai daily.

In the meantime, a knowledgeable source said the Public Prosecution has also ordered the pretrial detention of two businessmen, Tariq and Mohammad Al-Kazemi.

The same source said the Prosecution has so far requested for the seizure of real estate assets believed to be worth 35 million dinars reportedly acquired after embezzling millions of dinars of public money.

The source added some of the suspects, including 3 owners of hotels , have expressed their willingness to return the ‘stolen’ money believed to be in the range of KD 20 million in cash.

The source pointed out based on the latest results of investigations and confessions, the Public Prosecution has come to the conclusion that no officers from the Public Relations Department at the Ministry of Interior are involved in embezzling public money.

The source added, Al-Hammadi, who has been described as the ‘Black Box’ for allegedly ‘holding’ vital information, is said to have confessed in detail during interrogations. He is also said to have confirmed the validity of a number of documents related to the case and the relationship of the accused with the documents.