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.



Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Reconstitutes Council of Senior Scholars, Shura Council

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz chairs a Shura Council meeting. (SPA)
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz chairs a Shura Council meeting. (SPA)
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Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Reconstitutes Council of Senior Scholars, Shura Council

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz chairs a Shura Council meeting. (SPA)
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz chairs a Shura Council meeting. (SPA)

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz issued on Monday two Royal Decrees to reconstitute the Council of Senior Scholars and the Shura Council.

Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al-Sheikh was reappointed chairman of the Council of Senior Scholars and Sheikh Abdullah Al-Sheikh was renamed as speaker of the Shura Council.

Mishaal Al-Salami was re-named deputy speaker of the Shura Council and Dr. Hanan Al-Ahmadi was re-appointed assistant speaker.

The changes, which also included the appointment of new members to both councils, will take effect on September 4.