Kuwait Anti-Corruption Authority investigates suspicions of corruption

KUWAIT CITY, June 20: The Kuwait Anti-Corruption Authority (Nazaha) is looking into the authenticity of what was published by the Al-Qabas daily on Feb 18, 2021, under the title ‘Affairs investigating suspicions of corruption’ in the Computer Department of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Community Development particularly the administrative and financial sectors which had led to the disruption of three development projects, reports the daily.

Al-Qabas daily has learned that Nazaha recently summoned senior officials of the ministry to investigate and look into the details of was published and made waves in the social media platforms, after it was published by the Al-Qabas daily.

The daily added, Nazaha is said to have listened to the testimony of those who had been summoned for investigation and has in its possession documents required to complete the case file, since suspicions throw light on facilitating the embezzlement of public money.

Reliable sources said the Undersecretary of the ministry has sent a memo to the minister recommending termination of the services of the employees involved in the case -- the director and head of a department -- especially since one of them has been out of work since last February.

The sources say their ‘interruption’ from work they are still obstructing the ministry’s work by continuing to give instructions to contracting companies without any official documents in violation of rules and regulations.

The sources pointed out that the Assistant Undersecretary at the Ministry of Social Affairs, Abdulaziz Al-Mutairi, has submitted a memo the Undersecretary of the Ministry saying there are no legal basis for the employee who is ‘suspended’ from work insisting that any instructions issued by him should not be implemented, indicating that the legal affairs department in the Ministry had issued a decision to deduct the salary of suspect as a primary step and then issued a decision to suspend one of them from work.

The sources revealed the two suspects are suspects in the work of charity societies and public benefit associations, in addition to the project of implementing the development plan according to the state’s vision.

Recently, the sources said, another infringement on public money in computer management and suspicions of corruption has been revealed, and that the file has been referred to the competent authorities.

Nazaha announced Thursday the referral of the chairman of the board of directors of a sports club and others to the Public Prosecution on charges of committing the crime of facilitating the theft of public money.

Nazaha said in a press statement that the referral comes as a continuation of its efforts to combat corruption, ward off its risks and effects, and prosecute its perpetrators by receiving serious charges that fulfill the conditions stipulated under Law No. 2 of 2016 and its executive regulations.

It clarified that the aforementioned charges were found guilty in the text of Article 10 of Law No. 1 of 1993 and the offense of forgery in Article No. 257 of Penal Code No. 16 of 1960. It affirmed its determination to continue efforts and procedures regarding the examination and collection of evidence and investigations in all serious charges received, valuing the role of whistle-blowers in exercising their role in assisting the Commission to obtain the necessary information and data on corruption incidents.

In its statement, the authority stressed the provision of the maximum levels of protection and confidentiality necessary for whistle-blowers, which were imposed by law and the executive regulations.