Dozens of Kuwaitis wishing to go to France prevented from obtaining ‘Schengen’ visa
Syrian forges KD 20 bills, uses it in many shops, malls
KUWAIT CITY, Jan 28: Dozens of Kuwaitis were prevented from obtaining a Schengen visa, especially those wishing to travel to France, against the background of them traveling earlier on tourist visas to this country and receiving treatment and failing to pay bills, reports Al-Rai daily.
The sources pointed out that when “the French hospitals informed the Kuwaiti health office in France, the office denied that these ‘patients’ were sent for treatment abroad, and therefore could not pay their bills.”
On the other hand, the European Union countries have started implementing the decision to increase the Schengen visa fees by 33.3 percent starting from Feb 3, 2020, which will now cost from 60 to 80 Euros.
The new procedures will allow visa applicants to submit applications for a period of up to 6 months, and no later than 15 days before the trip, to ensure that EU member states cover the costs of obtaining visas.
The visa fee for children from 6 years up to 12 years will also be raised from 35 to 40 Euros, while children up to 6 years and below will be exempted from fees.
Well-informed sources indicated that starting from Feb 21, the electronic visa waiver (EVW) will be circulated to all countries that are exempt from the Schengen visa.
Currency forger nabbed: Personnel from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) have arrested an unidentified Syrian for forging the
Kuwaiti currency in the KD 20 denomination inside his home in Ishbiliya, reports Al-Anba daily.
The daily added, the Syrian was arrested after the concerned authorities received complaints that ‘someone’ was using forged money to buy things.
CID personnel, acting on information began investigations and finally caught the man red-handed.
During interrogation the Syrian claimed he had been cheated by an unidentified African gang which allegedly sold him blank papers promising it turns into real currency after using a particular type of ink.
However, the CID men refused to buy his story and continued their interrogation following which the man admitted that it is he who bought the tools to forge the currency.
He also told police most of the forged currency in 20 dinars bills he spent in grocery shops and shopping centers, particularly in the Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh area given the vast expat population and in the belief he will not be caught.
Police then armed with a search and arrest warrant from the Public Prosecution raided the man’s home in Ishbiliya and seized the currency forging tools including state-ofthe-art machinery and 8,960 forged dinars in 20-dinar bills.