Kuwait Sentences Two Officers to 7 Years in Prison over 2018 Leaked Recordings

A general view of the Kuwait Palace of Justice in Kuwait (File photo: Reuters)
A general view of the Kuwait Palace of Justice in Kuwait (File photo: Reuters)
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Kuwait Sentences Two Officers to 7 Years in Prison over 2018 Leaked Recordings

A general view of the Kuwait Palace of Justice in Kuwait (File photo: Reuters)
A general view of the Kuwait Palace of Justice in Kuwait (File photo: Reuters)

Kuwait’s Court of Appeals suspended two officers and sentenced them to seven years hard labor in the case of security leaked recordings that date back to 2018.

The Court of Appeal announced the verdict during its Wednesday session after the two officers were previously acquitted in a former trial.

The ruling also included the dismissal of the officers from their posts and the acquittal of other eight detainees.

The case dates back to 2018, after leaked recordings on social media revealed that personal accounts of prominent public figures, among them lawmakers and journalists, were being watched, leading to a wave of public rage in the country.

On August 20, 2020, former Interior Minister Anas al-Saleh dismissed the Director-General of State Security Agency, the former Director of the money laundering department, and a number of officers.

The case led to a row between members of the parliament and the government.

A week later, the National Assembly announced a no-confidence motion against Saleh, with a majority of 35 deputies, and the ministry of interior was accused of spying on citizens in the case of the leaks.



Trump Arrives in Riyadh on Official Visit 

Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, (R) meets with US President Donald Trump in Riyadh on May 13, 2025. (AFP)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, (R) meets with US President Donald Trump in Riyadh on May 13, 2025. (AFP)
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Trump Arrives in Riyadh on Official Visit 

Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, (R) meets with US President Donald Trump in Riyadh on May 13, 2025. (AFP)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, (R) meets with US President Donald Trump in Riyadh on May 13, 2025. (AFP)

Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, welcomed on Tuesday US President Donald Trump in Riyadh as he embarked on his first official visit abroad since his reelection. 

The visit aims to deepen the strategic partnership with Saudi Arabia.   

Trump is also set to visit the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.   

The Saudi government, chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, welcomed the visit on Monday, hoping it would bolster cooperation and the partnership between the Kingdom and the US.   

Prior to his departure, Trump had described his visit to the Gulf as “historic”.   

Saudi Arabia was the destination of Trump's first foreign visit during his first term in office in 2017.