GCC states put some celebrities under spotlight in ‘money-laundering’ probe
Kuwait police informs counterparts on illegal transfers
KUWAIT CITY, July 30: The Gulf Cooperation Council states are currently paying great attention on the alleged money transfers that were carried out by some celebrities after the Kuwaiti security authorities informed their counterparts of the ‘illegal’ transfers, reports Al-Seyassah daily quoting informed sources.
The same sources said some of these suspects (celebrities) are in custody of the Public Prosecution while others are being sought for interrogation while at the same time slapping a travel ban on them to prevent them from escaping from the country.
The sources pointed out exorbitant sums of money were transferred between influential people in Gulf countries and what it called the well-known media personalities who are accused of money laundering. They are under the watchful eye of the Gulf security services.
The sources emphasized that the Ministry of Interior is currently investigating a number of people in the country for their association with the ‘Fouad al-Irani’ case, who with four other accomplices have been referred to the Central Prison on charges of money laundering.
The sources explained the case is being investigated because new names have surfaced during interrogations with the Al-Irani case and people working for government institutions and ministries are said to have facilitated the procedure of selling real estate and luxury vehicles.
On the other hand, sources confirmed that the security services have begun their investigations to find the vehicles which Fouad has transferred in the names of others and to know who from the General Traffic Department are involved in this case, and whether they received money in exchange for helping make the transfer of the vehicles he owned without his presence.
The sources pointed out that the accused Fouad stated he had video clips of people taking part in his ‘wild parties’ characters that he was organizing in chalets and farms in the presence of girls. Some clips were posted on the social media sites about ‘red evening parties’ and the accused is considered as the most dangerous among those accused in money laundering cases, especially since he became a millionaire overnight from a mere ‘pauper’.
On the level of investigations, a security source told the daily, the State Security Agency has found that there are various accounts in the ‘Social Media’, in connection with some of the famous accused persons identified as FF, YB and MB, who publish ads and pictures on fake accounts that are managed by others.