Lawmakers consider expanding non-custodial sentences with new legal reforms
TDT | Manama
Lawmakers are set to decide on amendments granting judges greater flexibility to impose non-custodial sentences, including house arrest, electronic tagging, or mandatory training programmes.
The amendments are tied to Royal Decree No. (96) of 2024 and update Law No. (18) of 2017.
They introduce new sentencing options such as:
• Bans on visiting specific websites
• Court-ordered checkins with the police
• Commitment to psychiatric or specialist care facilities
Offenders sentenced to one year or less could also apply to have their punishment converted to one of these alternatives, subject to judicial approval.
Earlier this month, the lower house approved the government-drafted amendments following a report by the Foreign Affairs, Defence, and National Security Committee.
However, the timing of the upper chamber's review depends on the Eid Al-Fitr holiday and the moon sighting.
The revised list of punishments, which already includes community service and reparations, now also features internet restrictions and mandatory reporting to security authorities. The bill outlines that the Ministry of Interior will oversee the enforcement of these penalties, deciding how and where they are implemented.
Two new articles in the law emphasize rehabilitation through psychological and health-based care and introduce police-monitored check-ins as an intermediate measure between jail and freedom.
Legal committees in both chambers have reviewed the text and raised no objections.
These changes build on the original 2017 law, which introduced non-custodial sentences as a form of rehabilitation-focused justice. The amendments reflect lessons learned over the past eight years and aim to provide judges with more sentencing options while addressing offenders' individual circumstances.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Gulf Insider
a day ago
- Gulf Insider
Kuwait Raises Court Fees to Curb Rise in Frivolous Lawsuits
Kuwait has raised judicial fees for the first time in decades in a bid to reduce the number of frivolous and malicious lawsuits crowding its courts. The Cabinet approved the move last week, amending provisions of Law No. 17 of 1973 to increase the cost of accessing the country's judicial system. The new fee structure is intended to ensure that the right to litigation is exercised with seriousness, while also encouraging parties to pursue alternatives such as arbitration and conciliation. The reforms were approved during the Cabinet's weekly meeting, chaired by Sheikh Ahmed Al Abdullah. In the same session, the government endorsed additional legal amendments to protect Kuwait's education system, particularly during intermediate and secondary school examinations. Under revisions to the Penal Code, two new articles 259 bis and 259 bis A introduce stricter penalties for cheating-related offenses. The leaking, selling, or distribution of exam materials now carries penalties of up to five years in prison and fines of 1,000 to 5,000 Kuwaiti dinars. Unauthorised tampering with student exam papers or grades could result in up to seven years of imprisonment and fines of 5,000 to 10,000 dinars. The government said the amendments are aimed at preserving the credibility of Kuwait's academic institutions and ensuring fair competition among students. The changes come amid rising reports of exam-related misconduct, particularly during national testing periods. The Cabinet also reaffirmed its commitment to national development, vowing to accelerate key infrastructure projects and remove regulatory hurdles that threaten to delay implementation. Also read: Kuwait Ends 19-year Visa Ban on Pakistanis, Thousands of Jobs Ahead
Gulf Insider
2 days ago
- Gulf Insider
Saudi Arabia Arrests Over 11,500 Violators Of Laws, Deports 9,215 In One Week
Saudi authorities has arrested11,657 illegal residents were over the past week as part of the Kingdom's ongoing crackdown on residency and labour law violators, the Ministry of Interior announced on Sunday. The arrests were made during the joint campaigns carried out by the security forces between May 29 and June 4, in collaboration with the relevant government agencies. According to the ministry, the detainees included 6,981 violators of the Residency Law, 3,190 violators of the Border Security Law, and 1,486 violators of the Labour Law. Of these, 9,215 violators were deported while 12,122 were referred to their diplomatic missions to obtain travel documents and 1,435 were referred to complete their travel reservations. Some 17,018 illegal residents, including 15,991 men and 1,027 women, are currently undergoing various phases of legal procedures as part of punitive measures against them. The ministry reiterated its warning that any person, who facilitates the illegal entry of individuals into the Kingdom, transports them on its territory, provides them with shelter or any other assistance or service may be penalised with up to 15 years in prison and a fine of up to SR1 million, and that the vehicles used for transportation or houses used for giving shelter will be confiscated. The ministry urged the public to report violation by calling the number 911 in the regions of Mecca, Riyadh, and the Eastern Province and the numbers 999 and 996 in the Kingdom's other regions.
Daily Tribune
3 days ago
- Daily Tribune
Condemnations Are Not Enough, Anwar Warns Arms-Supplying Nations
Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has urged stronger collaboration between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in a united effort to end the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. He emphasized that only a collective regional and global response could halt the continued violence and alleviate the immense suffering of the Palestinian people. Speaking to reporters following Eid al-Adha prayers at Masjid Putra, Anwar—who also serves as Malaysia's Finance Minister—highlighted the need for a consolidated front against Israel's ongoing military operations. 'We have made our position clear through the statement issued by Wisma Putra,' Anwar said. 'However, this cannot be the burden of a single nation. There is already consensus, especially with the Gulf states, and now we must strengthen that.' He called on ASEAN, GCC nations, and other like-minded countries to form a united front that speaks decisively and acts firmly on the international stage. Anwar's comments come in response to the United States' recent use of its veto power at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), which blocked a resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the removal of aid restrictions. The move sparked widespread criticism, with Malaysia expressing 'deep regret' over what it described as the UNSC's persistent failure to uphold its responsibilities. In a statement issued by Malaysia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the government condemned the inaction and criticized the repeated use of veto power, calling it 'deeply disappointing' in the face of one of the gravest humanitarian tragedies since World War II. Anwar also condemned nations continuing to supply weapons to Israel, saying such actions blatantly violate international law and moral principles. 'Empty condemnations followed by arms sales cannot be justified,' he said. 'Malaysia will continue to explore diplomatic pathways to support the Palestinian cause and demand the restoration of their legitimate rights, including in Gaza.' The Prime Minister revealed that in a series of Eid al-Adha phone calls with fellow Muslim leaders—including Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif—all parties expressed strong concern over the violence inflicted by what he termed the 'Zionist regime.' 'There was a clear, unified stance,' Anwar said. 'We agreed to maintain ongoing dialogue and strengthen cooperation in pursuit of a swift and just resolution to this crisis.' As the conflict in Gaza continues to claim lives and fuel regional instability, Anwar's call reflects growing momentum within the Muslim world for coordinated diplomatic pressure and tangible action.
