Court orders release of ex-MP in money-laundering charges
Duo acquitted in appeal
KUWAIT CITY, Aug 6: The Criminal Court ordered the release of a former MP on bail of KD50,000 in a case filed against him for involvement in money laundering, real estate swindling and other charges as per the complaints submitted by several citizens.
The court adjourned hearing of the case until Aug 27, 2019.
The defendant was brought to the court from the Central Jail under the protection of Special Forces. He denied the accusations, pointing out that his role was limited to being a mediator between companies and banks. He said the accusations should be hurled at the banks which transferred the money considering he is not a financial specialist unlike the bankers who are supposed to reject money transfer transactions if deemed illegal.
He asserted some clients received their properties while others are still waiting. He explained the real estate market was negatively affected by a number of factors including the Gulf crisis and rental fees decline. He added the real estate exhibitions were held under the supervision of Ministry of Commerce and Industry and in case of anomalies, Minister of Commerce and Industry Khalid Al-Roudan should be held responsible because he issued licenses for the exhibitions.
Previously, the Misdemeanor Court sentenced the former MP to one year in prison for participation in a real estate scam in which the money involved is estimated at millions of Kuwaiti dinars. He allegedly deceived a number of people into buying properties in Saudi Arabia and Turkey, promising huge returns.
Verdict overruled:
The Court of Appeals overturned the verdict issued by the Court of First Instance which sentenced two Kuwaiti citizens to 15year imprisonment. The court instead decided to acquit them of the charges of kidnapping another citizen, stealing his money, sexually violating him and causing damages to a patrol vehicle.
The Public Prosecution had charged the two citizens with sodomizing the victim by force after they seized him and stole his money. They were also charged with misuse of smartphone by filming the victim, attacking securitymen, and causing damages to a patrol vehicle.
During the court session, Lawyer Jarrah Al-Azmi said there are no evidences to support the accusation of rape, insisting on the lack of criminal intention of his clients.
He stressed that the arrest and search procedures were illegal as they were executed without obtaining a warrant from the Public Prosecution.
Lawyer Al-Azmi indicated that the Criminal Investigations report says his clients’ vehicle had a number of marks, which means there was another incident, adding that the accusations against his clients are illogical, as they portray his clients as monsters, not human beings.
Citizen acquitted:
The Farwaniya Misdemeanor Court acquitted a citizen of assaulting an ironsmith while working in a neighbor’s house for allegedly disturbing his sleep.
The defendant’s lawyer, Attorney En’am Haider, disclosed her client was accused of attacking the artisan at Naseem when he was constructing a metal shelter. She argued that her client never meant to commit any crime. She said the complainant exploited the fact that nobody was present during the incident to create allegation against her client. She added the injury stated in the medical report was a sign of injury rather than indictment. She faulted procedures of the investigation.
Detention extended:
The Criminal Court decided to extend the detention of a Kuwaiti lawyer and four Egyptian expatriates charged for kidnapping another Kuwaiti lawyer whom they held in a livestock pen under torture in order to coerce him to sign some documents. The court has since adjourned the case to Sept 3, 2019. It is worth noting that the accused has denied all accusations leveled against him.