Kuwait expels Iran diplomats, shuts mission
ALL JOINT COMMISSIONS BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES ALSO SUSPENDED
K uwait yesterday asked the Iranian embassy to reduce the number of its diplomats from 19 to four, reports said.
The diplomats, declared personae non gratae, were given 45 days to leave Kuwait.
The request was made in a protest letter to the Iranian diplomatic mission in Kuwait, asking for shutting down the cultural mission and the military bureau and announcing that all joint commissions between the two countries were suspended.
The Kuwaiti moves were made following the conviction of the members of Al Abdali terror cell who were put on trial for their intelligence contacts with Iran and the proIran militia Hezbollah, Kuwait News website reported.
Kuwaiti daily Al Siyassah reported recently that 14 Al Abdali cell convicts on June 18 fled to Iran after they used small boats to reach international waters where an Iranian vessel was waiting for them.
The case dates back to August 13, 2015, when Kuwait’s Interior Ministry said that it busted a terrorist cell and uncovered a large cache of arms, ammunition and explosives hidden underground at a farm in Abdali.
On September 1, 2015, Kuwait’s public prosecution said 26 defendants, including one Iranian, would stand trial for the possession of weapons, ammunition and explosives and espionage for Iran and Hezbollah. It said that 24 defendants faced charges of engaging in acts likely to undermine the unity and safety of Kuwait and of intelligence with Iran and Hezbollah.
The trial opened on September 15, 2015 and the criminal court on January 12, 2016 ruled death sentences for the Iranian in absentia and for a Kuwaiti defendant. It also decided a life sentence for one suspect and prison terms for the others ranging from five to 15 years.
The verdicts were appealed and the Court of Appeals in July last year ruled that 15 members of the cell were not guilty in the case of espionage for Iran and Hezbollah. In June, the Cassation Court overturned the death sentence of one accused and commuted it to life in prison. It also cancelled the acquittal of 15 defendants and sentenced two to 15 years in prison, 15 to 10 years and three to five years.
Kuwait’s Ministry of Interior has warned that anyone withholding information on the whereabouts of convicts in Al Abdali terror cell would face legal measures.
The warning was issued following reports that some of the convicts disappeared on the day the Cassation Court, the highest court in the country, overturned an acquittal ruling by a lower court and ordered their imprisonment.
In its statement, the ministry urged anyone with information on the criminals to come forward.
“We call on all citizens and residents to cooperate with security forces and provide any information they may have,” the statement said.
“All those who conceal any information on the convicts or are accomplices in helping them escape will face incarceration for two years and, or, a fine of up to 2,000 dinars.”
The ministry published the pictures of the 16 convicts wanted by the police in an effort to help people identify and report them.
On Monday, Kuwaiti daily Al Siyassah said that 14 Al Abdali Cell convicts on June 18 fled to Iran after they used small boats to reach international waters where an Iranian vessel was waiting for them.
However, the ministry in its statement said that there was no evidence the convicts were out of Kuwait.
The convicts included Kuwaiti nationals sentenced to jail terms ranging from five to 15 years and an Iranian national sentenced in absentia to death.
In September 2015, the public prosecution indicted the suspects for acts that had threatened national security and unity.
The defendants were also accused of intelligence with Iran and Hezbollah as well as storing weapons, ammunition and communication devices and training on the use of weapons, ammunitions and explosives.
The verdicts were appealed and the Court of Appeals in July last year ruled that 15 members of the cell were not guilty in the case of espionage for Iran and Hezbollah.
In June, the Cassation Court commuted the death sentence of one accused to life in prison.
It also cancelled the acquittal of 15 defendants and sentenced two to 15 years in prison, 15 to 10 years and three to five years.