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Arab Times
4 days ago
- Arab Times
Kuwait Housing Authority Fraud: Top Official Gets 15 Years In Prison
KUWAIT CITY, Aug 7: The Court of Cassation has closed one of the biggest corruption cases in the country -- the embezzlement of KD933,000 from the Public Authority for Housing Welfare (PAHW). The case centered on the illegal seizure of rent allowance funds through the manipulation of citizens' housing files without their knowledge. The court sentenced a department head at PAHW to 15 years in prison with hard labor, fined him KD1,934,000, and dismissed him from his position. The court also upheld the five-year prison sentence imposed on two employees, fined them KD627,000 and dismissed one of them from his job. Two other employees were fined KD3,000 each, and one of them was also dismissed from his job, bringing the total number of dismissed staff involved in the case to three. The case dates back to 2016, when the Legal Department at the authority uncovered a widespread tampering with citizens' rent allowance files, resulting in the unauthorized disbursement of huge sums through the use of their data within their knowledge. Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff
Arab Times
03-08-2025
- Politics
- Arab Times
New Law In Kuwait Targets Public Employees Who Fail To Enforce Judicial Decisions
KUWAIT CITY, Aug 3: A new decree-law amending certain provisions of Penal Code No. 16/1960 was published in the Official Gazette on Sunday. The amendment imposes stricter penalties for public employees who fail to enforce judicial rulings. It states that Article 58bis of Law No. 31/1970 has been replaced with the following provision: 'Any competent public employee -- who intentionally fails to implement an enforceable judicial ruling within 90 days of being notified by a public representative through traditional methods or modern electronic communication following the Civil and Commercial Procedures Law -- shall face imprisonment of up to two years and a fine ranging from KD3,000 to KD20,000 or either penalty. If the employee uses his official authority to obstruct the enforcement of the ruling, the penalty shall be imprisonment for up to one year and a fine between KD2,000 and KD10,000 or either penalty.' The amendment gives the court the power to order the dismissal of any public employee found guilty of the violation. According to the decree-law, only the Public Prosecution has the authority to investigate, adjudicate and prosecute in such cases. However, the criminal case may be dropped at any stage if the employee complies with the judicial ruling. The accompanying explanatory memorandum stressed that enforcing judicial decisions is a cornerstone of justice and the rule of law. It warned that non-compliance by public employees undermines judicial autonomy and violates the constitutional principle of separation of powers enshrined in Article 50 of the Constitution. The memorandum also contrasts the new provisions with the previous version of the law, which imposed lighter penalties. Under the earlier article, an employee who failed to comply after 30 days of being warned faced imprisonment and potential dismissal; while misuse of official authority to obstruct a ruling carried a maximum prison term of six months and a fine of KD1,000 to KD3,000. It clarified that experience has proven that the previous penalties were insufficient to ensure enforcement of rulings. The new amendment aims to strengthen deterrence by imposing heavier financial sanctions and clearer consequences for non-compliance.
Arab Times
17-06-2025
- Business
- Arab Times
Iran-Israel Conflict Fuels Delivery Market Growth In Kuwait
KUWAIT CITY, June 17: It has been said that the misfortune of one person is the gain of another, as manifested in the remarkable increase in the activity of home delivery companies; given the escalation of war in the region between Iran and Israel, with no end in sight at present and amid the state of anticipation and caution among the public. In a statement to the newspaper, Home Delivery Company Owners Committee Chairman Abdul Aziz Al-Falih disclosed that the increase in activity in this sector has been estimated at 10 percent since the outbreak of the ongoing war between Iran and Israel. He said delivery companies were receiving 300 delivery requests per minute under normal circumstances, but this has now jumped to 330. He pointed out that water and food are the most in-demand commodities in recent days. 'Demand for essential items has increased, while the rate of non-essential deliveries has declined,' he added. He went on to say that the number of officially registered home delivery companies is about 1,902, and around 900 of these companies are active and operating nonstop. He stated that the number of bicycles used for delivery in the local market currently stands at 14,000; along with approximately 25,000 vehicles. He also confirmed that delivery prices have decreased due to the rising number of delivery companies. "Previously, the cost of delivery reached KD3, but with the increase in the number of companies in this field, the fee is now 500 fils or more, depending on the distance and the nature of the restaurants delivering the orders. The delivery market is currently witnessing competition that primarily serves the interests of consumers, while the committee meets monthly for coordination purposes,' he concluded. Fahad Al-Taraji, CEO of the delivery platform affiliated with Riders -- a delivery company-- confirmed that the delivery market has witnessed an increase in activity since the outbreak of the war; indicating it has increased even more during the current events. He expects increased activity as this sudden crisis continues. He affirmed that the delivery companies in the country are strong and active, stating that the company he manages has a capital of KD1 million and delivers orders at a flat rate of KD1,250 per order from Jahra to Umm Al-Hayman. He said the mission of home delivery companies is to facilitate the process of obtaining a personal delivery representative between individuals and homes, or for the owners of home businesses, regular stores, restaurants, companies in general, or even government institutions, banks and private companies. He said delivery companies also cover remote areas; such as Mutlaa, Sabah Al-Ahmad, Wafra, Khairan, Kabad and others, for only double the price. He pointed out that before the emergence of his company and other companies operating in the same field; there was a black market for delivery agents, in which the price of delivering an order ranged from KD3 to KD4 for nearby internal areas and KD7 to KD10 for remote areas. 'Therefore, the new delivery companies emerged to ease the financial burden on consumers and support productive families, shops, and small and medium enterprises (SMEs). They aim to market products at better delivery prices; and prevent unlicensed delivery agents from exploiting the delivery market or manipulating it, while preventing unjustified price hikes,' he asserted. He added that the coming period will witness cooperation with the Productive Families and Non-Traditional Crafts Association to open sales windows and support them without collecting fees. Moneim Qasim, a bicycle delivery representative, said the number of orders increased in recent days; starting Friday afternoon. He added that restaurant orders have decreased, while orders for food items from shopping centers that sell their products online have increased. He added that he used to deliver 15 orders per day, and now the number has reached 23. Adel Al-Zaki, an official at one of the major food shopping centers, stated that shopping through electronic websites are active these days due to the ongoing war between Iran and Israel -- around more than 20 increase in activity.
Arab Times
16-06-2025
- Arab Times
Doctor in Kuwait was fined for stealing KD3.5 drug from the hospital
KUWAIT CITY, June 16: The Criminal and Cassation courts issued a series of deterrent rulings in cases related to the embezzlement of public funds, professional negligence, and crimes against professional honor. In the first case, the Criminal Court sentenced a government employee to five years in prison, ordered permanent removal from his job, and fined him KD35,000 for embezzling more than KD11,000 as undeserved salaries while he was in pretrial detention in a drug case. The penalty also extended to his direct supervisor, as the court ruled to dismiss him from his position and fined him KD3,000 for neglecting his duties and failing to inform the competent authorities about the employee's absence from work. In a similarly stringent ruling, the Court of Cassation -- headed by Counselor Sultan Bouresli -- upheld a previous ruling fining a psychiatric assistant doctor KD500 after he admitted to stealing antidepressant medication worth KD3.5 from Amiri Hospital. Investigations revealed that the doctor wore a mask to conceal his features while committing the crime, which he repeated several times to obtain medications not normally dispensed to non-psychiatric patients. During the investigations, the doctor explained that he had suffered from anxiety and depression for years and paid the price for the stolen medications. Moreover, the Lawyers Disciplinary Chamber at the Court of First Instance issued disciplinary rulings against several lawyers for professional negligence. One lawyer was suspended for one year, another for three months, and a third for one month for missing crucial appeals in their clients' cases. A fourth lawyer was suspended for eight months for failing to attend with his client during the investigation into a complaint related to a bounced check and a seizure. In a separate case, also headed by Bouresli, the Court of Cassation upheld a three-year prison sentence imposed on a citizen after it was proven that he attempted to leave illegally through the Salmi border using a Saudi identification card despite a travel ban imposed on him. These rulings confirm the Kuwaiti judiciary's strict oversight of public funds, its commitment to professional duties and ethics, and keenness to implement the principle of accountability and to prevent impunity.
Arab Times
20-05-2025
- Business
- Arab Times
New Public Debt Law aims to boost financing and liquidity
KUWAIT CITY, May 20: Undersecretary of the Ministry of Finance Aseel Al-Munifi has emphasized the core objectives of the newly issued Public Debt Law -- Financing and Liquidity, highlighting its role in providing the State with diversified financial resources, both locally and internationally, to support development projects. In a media briefing on Monday, Al-Munifi explained that the law is designed to strengthen domestic financial markets, stimulate the banking sector, and reflect the State's capacity to borrow responsibly. She stressed that access to liquidity will enhance the financial reserves of the country, helping it to meet obligations amid evolving global economic conditions. Al-Munifi stated that the Public Debt Law will play a pivotal role in advancing numerous development initiatives, ultimately driving economic growth and supporting Kuwait's vision of becoming a regional financial hub. 'Among the key projects to be financed under this law are strategic initiatives in infrastructure, housing and health cities, which form a cornerstone of the national development agenda,' she revealed. She added that the law provides flexible and sustainable financial instruments, reinforcing the government's commitment to diversifying funding sources. In this context, Al-Munifi revealed that a sukuk issuance law will soon follow, pending final procedures. She affirmed that the law is sovereign, with the Ministry of Finance authorized to mandate the Central Bank or Kuwait Investment Authority to act on its behalf in securing financing. The ministry, she added, remains committed to developing a robust legislative framework to enhance the country's fiscal environment. Faisal Al-Muzaini, Director of the Public Debt Department at the ministry, confirmed that borrowing from both domestic and international sources is incorporated into the 2025/2026 budget, with estimated borrowing expected to range between KD3 and KD6 billion. He pointed out major differences between the current and previous debt laws, indicating the new legislation raises the borrowing ceiling from KD10 billion to KD30 billion; and extends the borrowing term from 10 to 50 years. 'It also introduces specific expenditure guidelines, a new element compared to the earlier framework,' he stated. He stressed the importance of leveraging local markets alongside global ones, explaining that the new debt law will positively influence Kuwait's credit rating by showcasing its fiscal discipline and ability to manage development financing effectively. He described the law as 'one of the most significant financial reforms in Kuwait's history.' He also revealed that a flexible financing strategy has been developed to engage confidently with global markets, focusing on minimizing borrowing costs and diversifying the investor base across regions and institutions. He said the main goal is to develop a local debt market by establishing a reliable yield curve, which will serve as a benchmark for domestic investors. He added Kuwait's debt-to-GDP ratio stands at just 2.9 percent, significantly lower than international benchmarks, where this ratio often exceeds 50 percent or 60 percent. He confirmed this low ratio positions Kuwait advantageously to enter capital markets after an eight-year hiatus. Asked whether public debt could be used to repay existing obligations, he confirmed that the law does not prohibit such use and that it will be considered within the broader financing strategy. Although no specific timeline has been set for the initial borrowing, he stated that preparations are underway and that the ministry is nearing the final stages before entering the markets. Regarding borrowing models, he clarified that Kuwait will follow a strategy tailored to its unique fiscal position, leveraging its sovereign reserves and national standards rather than adopting any predefined international model.
