Latest news with #YaHalaKuwaitShoppingFestival
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Yahoo
Kuwaiti government official accused of fixing raffles
One woman's streak of four luxury car wins in Kuwaiti televised raffles was too good to be true. Videos show a government official running the draws with an approach we will charitably call… unorthodox. He allegedly slipped the winning tickets from his sleeve after clumsily shaking off a pile of others. The Ya Hala Kuwait Shopping Festival, which organized the raffle, has paused draws while authorities investigate a three-year scam allegedly involving up to 20 people. The raffle should have been beyond reproach: It was overseen by the so-called Permanent Committee for Celebrating National Holidays and Occasions and staffed by Kuwait's Ministry of Commerce and Trade officials. A deputy minister offered his resignation.
Arab Times
27-03-2025
- Arab Times
Kuwait Uncovers Major Fraud Network, Detains Citizen and Five Expatriates
KUWAIT CITY, March 27: The Public Prosecution has ordered the detention of a Kuwaiti citizen and five expatriates following extensive investigations into their involvement in serious crimes that have shocked the public. The charges include forgery of official documents, bribery of a public employee, embezzlement of state funds, money laundering, and other major offenses that have significantly harmed the country's national interests. In a statement, the Public Prosecution explained that these decisive measures were taken in response to recent social media reports regarding the involvement of a specialized employee at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The suspect, who held the position of supervisor for the special draws of the Ya Hala Kuwait Shopping Festival, allegedly exploited his role to commit systematic fraud in the weekly prize draws organized by the festival's sponsoring company. The event is held under the supervision of all relevant state authorities. Investigations revealed that the accused collaborated with several other suspects, some of whom fled the country immediately after their involvement was exposed. Swift Action and International Arrest Warrants In an exceptional and rapid response, the Public Prosecutor instructed the formation of an integrated investigation team, which began working on the case from the moment it was uncovered, in close coordination with the Ministry of Interior. The Public Prosecution issued multiple arrest and search warrants for six suspects, along with three international arrest warrants for others who had escaped Kuwait. Their names have been added to international wanted lists for prosecution and extradition back to Kuwait to complete investigations. Seizure of Evidence and Confessions During searches of the suspects' residences and vehicles, authorities recovered large quantities of valuables, including gold bracelets, necklaces, luxury watches, pens, and cash suspected to be linked to the crimes. Additionally, documents, laptops, and mobile phones containing conclusive evidence of fraud and forgery related to the Ya Hala Shopping Festival draws—as well as previous draws associated with other companies—were seized. When confronted with the evidence, the defendants provided detailed confessions, admitting to their criminal methods, including manipulation, forgery, and bribery, all of which were carried out in prior coordination with one another. Freezing Assets and Digital Forensics To secure all evidence, the Public Prosecution ordered the freezing of the defendants' funds in local and international banks, requested their account details and transaction records, and sought financial statements from exchange companies regarding their transactions. The seized electronic devices were sent to the General Department of Criminal Evidence's Cybercrime Division for forensic analysis, data extraction, and comprehensive reporting. Ongoing Investigations and Wider Implications The Public Prosecution emphasized that investigations are proceeding swiftly, with specialized employees from various government agencies being questioned to uncover all aspects of the case. Additional inquiries have been initiated based on the defendants' confessions, which may lead to new leads and expand the scope of the investigation to include other potential suspects. The Prosecution stated that this high-profile case has exposed a sophisticated criminal network that sought to exploit systemic vulnerabilities for illicit financial gain at the expense of state funds and national economic interests. It reaffirmed its commitment to pursuing the case with the utmost rigor to ensure justice is served and all involved parties are held accountable.
Arab Times
24-03-2025
- Arab Times
Arrests made as Ya Hala raffle fraud suspicion grows
KUWAIT CITY, March 24: An Egyptian woman was arrested at Kuwait International Airport on Monday while attempting to leave the country, following suspicions surrounding her recent raffle win. According to security sources, the woman had transferred ownership of the prize — a car — to her husband, also of Egyptian nationality, before he rushed her to the airport in an apparent attempt to help her flee to Egypt. Further investigations revealed that she does not hold a driver's license, raising concerns about the legitimacy of her win. Her husband was also arrested earlier in the day for questioning regarding his potential involvement in the alleged fraud. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry has launched an official investigation into suspected manipulation in one of the Kuwait Shopping Festival raffles, Al- Seyassah daily reported. Undersecretary Ziad Al-Najem has referred the case to the Public Prosecution for further examination. Sources revealed that the referral letter highlighted suspicions that a ministry representative may have manipulated the prize draw, an allegation that, if proven, could damage consumer trust and the credibility of such events. In response to the controversy circulating on social media, the ministry issued a statement confirming that it had taken immediate legal steps to verify the claims. It also announced the temporary suspension of prize distributions and is coordinating with relevant authorities to complete the investigation and audit process. The ministry reiterated its commitment to ensuring the transparency and integrity of commercial raffles, emphasizing that it would take strict action against any violations that could undermine public confidence. Additionally, the Criminal Investigations Department has arrested an employee of the ministry in connection with the case. The suspect has been referred to the Public Prosecution as investigations continue. In light of the ongoing investigation, the management of the Ya Hala Kuwait Shopping Festival issued a statement reaffirming its commitment to transparency, integrity, and fairness in all its activities. The festival has temporarily suspended the distribution of prizes for the eighth raffle draw to verify its compliance with legal standards, in coordination with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The statement emphasized that all raffle draws are conducted under the supervision of the Ministry, with full participation from relevant government agencies. Ministry representatives oversee the entire raffle process independently, ensuring that the draws are free from external interference. To ensure full public accountability, all draws are documented and broadcast live on Kuwait's state television and streamed on the festival's YouTube channel, with coverage also provided across various news outlets and social media platforms. The festival management also pledged that upcoming draws will continue to adhere strictly to legal regulations and government guidelines. They called on authorities to take the strictest legal action against any attempt to undermine the process and stressed that these measures are essential to maintaining public trust and safeguarding the festival's esteemed reputation. In conclusion, the Ya Hala Festival management expressed gratitude to participants and the public for their trust, affirming that transparency, credibility, and fairness would always remain the core values of the Kuwait Shopping Festival. Meanwhile, The official spokesman for the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Abdullah Al-Harz, reaffirmed the Ministry's commitment to strengthening public and consumer trust. He emphasized that the recent suspicions surrounding one of the shopping festival's prize draws are unacceptable and that those responsible will be held accountable. To address these concerns, the Ministry has taken several internal measures as of Monday, March 24, 2025: Formation of a Fact-Finding Committee: Minister of Commerce and Industry, Khalifa Al-Ajeel, has issued a decision to establish a fact-finding committee to investigate violations related to previous prize draws. The committee will be led by Mr. Adnan Abel, Chairman of the Kuwait Lawyers Association. Management Reshuffle: Following the directives of His Excellency the Minister, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Ziad Al-Najem, has ordered a rotation of managers within the Control and Consumer Protection Affairs Sector. Enhanced Oversight and Future Safeguards: A new committee has been formed to supervise all current and future prize draws and to develop improved systems and mechanisms to prevent any future irregularities. Additionally, the Minister of Commerce has submitted a referral to the Attorney General containing new information regarding the suspicions raised during the prize draws. This follows a previous referral the Ministry made to the Public Prosecution yesterday. In conclusion, Al-Harz stressed the Ministry's dedication to upholding the law by cooperating fully with security and investigative authorities. The Ministry will continue to provide updates and information to ensure that all necessary actions are taken to maintain and restore public confidence in its procedures and operations.
Arab Times
24-03-2025
- Business
- Arab Times
Ya Hala Festival Reaffirms Commitment to Transparency Amid Raffle Verification
KUWAIT CITY, March 24: The management of the Ya Hala Kuwait Shopping Festival issued a statement reaffirming its commitment to transparency, integrity, and fairness in all its activities. In collaboration with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the festival has temporarily suspended the distribution of prizes for the eighth raffle draw to verify its compliance with legal standards. This step reflects the festival's dedication to maintaining public trust by ensuring that all raffle processes are conducted under strict government supervision and in full view of the public through live broadcasts and official media channels Below was the statement posted by the Ya Hala shopping festival management: The management of the Ya Hala Kuwait Shopping Festival reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the highest standards of transparency, integrity, and credibility in all festival activities. In light of recent developments, the management has been closely monitoring the latest raffle draw to ensure compliance with these principles. In coordination with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the distribution of prizes for the eighth draw has been temporarily suspended pending verification. This step has been taken to uphold the transparency and integrity of the festival's operations. The festival management emphasizes that all raffle draws are conducted under the supervision of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, with the participation of relevant government agencies. Ministry representatives oversee the entire raffle process independently, without any external interference. To ensure full transparency and public accountability, all raffle draws are documented and broadcast live. The Ministry of Information films the draws, which are aired on Kuwait's official state television and streamed live on the festival's YouTube channel. Additionally, the draws are covered extensively on the festival's official social media platforms and various news outlets, allowing the public to follow the proceedings with complete clarity. The Ya Hala Festival management confirms that upcoming draws will continue to be conducted in strict accordance with the legal regulations and guidelines established by the country's official authorities and enforced by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. These measures are designed to guarantee fairness and equal opportunities for all participants. The management also calls on the relevant authorities to take the strictest legal action against any attempts to compromise the integrity of the draws or undermine the fairness of the process. Such actions are essential to maintaining public trust and safeguarding the esteemed reputation of the festival as a symbol of national pride in shopping and entertainment. In conclusion, the Ya Hala Festival management expresses its gratitude to all participants and the esteemed audience for their trust, which serves as the foundation of the festival's success. Transparency, credibility, and impartiality will always remain the core values of the Kuwait Shopping Festival, Ya Hala. We also extend our appreciation to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry for its swift response and dedication to ensuring equal opportunities for all participants.
Arab Times
29-01-2025
- Business
- Arab Times
LuLu Hypermarket to launch ‘Shop More, Win More' at Ya Hala Kuwait Festival
KUWAIT CITY, Jan 29: LuLu Hypermarket, Kuwait's leading retail destination is delighted to announce its participation in the highly anticipated 'Ya Hala Kuwait Shopping Festival', the annual premier shopping event that provides opportunities to shop, save and win more. As part of the exciting shopping festival, the retailer is offering shoppers a chance to win big. For every KD10 spent at any LuLu outlet across Kuwait, customers will receive one coupon, increasing their chances to win spectacular prizes. With the festival's slogan, 'Shop More, Win More,' LuLu invites everyone to enjoy an unparalleled shopping experience, offering a vast selection of high-quality products at competitive prices. The Ya Hala Kuwait Shopping Festival spans an impressive 70 days of fun-filled shopping, featuring promotions, discounts, and a massive prize pool of $7.7 Million. Shoppers have the chance to win fabulous prizes, including from a lineup of 120 luxury cars and $1 Million in cash being given away as prizes during the festival. LuLu Hypermarket's participation in Ya Hala Kuwait Shopping Festival aims to elevate the shopping experiences of customers by combining unbeatable deals like Big 5 Days, LuLu Shopping Festivals, TV Fest, a wide variety of products, and the excitement of participating in one of Kuwait's most celebrated shopping festivals.
