Kuwait Former Defense Minister Receives Jail Sentence over Mishandling of Military Funds

Lightning strikes over Kuwait City during a thunder storm on November 19, 2023. (AFP)
Lightning strikes over Kuwait City during a thunder storm on November 19, 2023. (AFP)
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Kuwait Former Defense Minister Receives Jail Sentence over Mishandling of Military Funds

Lightning strikes over Kuwait City during a thunder storm on November 19, 2023. (AFP)
Lightning strikes over Kuwait City during a thunder storm on November 19, 2023. (AFP)

Kuwait's highest court on Sunday sentenced former defense and interior minister Sheikh Khalid al-Jarrah al-Sabah to seven years in prison for mishandling military funds.

Former Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber al-Mubarak al-Sabah, who faced similar charges, was ordered by the court to return the funds he mismanaged.

Both men had denied the charges.

Sheikh Jaber had in 2019 resigned as prime minister, a post he had held since 2011, after lawmakers sought a no-confidence vote against Sheikh Khalid, who was interior minister at the time.

The then defense minister Sheikh Nasser Sabah al-Ahmed had issued a statement two days after the government resignation, saying the cabinet stood down to avoid addressing mismanagement of some 240 million dinars ($778.61 million)in military funds before he assumed office.

Sheikh Jaber and Sheikh Khalid were acquitted of embezzlement charges in March 2022 but the case was revived upon an appeal from the Kuwaiti prosecution.



UAE President Pardons Bangladesh Citizens Involved in Recent Protests

A general view of the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi. (WAM)
A general view of the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi. (WAM)
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UAE President Pardons Bangladesh Citizens Involved in Recent Protests

A general view of the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi. (WAM)
A general view of the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi. (WAM)

United Arab Emirates’ President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan ordered on Tuesday a pardon for the Bangladeshi nationals involved in last month’s protests and disturbances across several emirates.

The decision includes cancelling the sentences of those convicted and arranging for their deportation, reported the UAE state news agency (WAM).

In line with the president’s directive, UAE Attorney-General Dr. Hamad Al Shamsi issued an order to halt the implementation of the sentences and kick off deportation procedures.

The Attorney General called on all residents of the UAE to respect the country’s laws, stressing that the right to express opinions is protected by the state and its legal framework.

The state provides lawful means for expressing views, ensuring this right does not turn into actions that could harm the interests of the nation and its people, he added.