Former government official sentenced to two years in prison and slapped with a fine of half a million Kuwaiti Dinars for acts of corruption.
In a major blow to the political scene in Kuwait, the Criminal Court of Cassation, led by Counselor Abdullah Jassim, handed down a tough verdict on former minister Mubarak Al-Harees. The ex-minister was shackled with a two-year prison sentence and hard labor, along with a hefty KD 500,000 fine, for illegally profiting and submitting an incomplete asset declaration.
The ruling came as a result of Al-Harees' influence-peddling antics, with reports suggesting that he accepted a personal bribe in exchange for his connections with public authorities, such as the Kuwait Municipality and the Public Authority for Industry. His actions culminated in the questionable designation of land in the Jahra and Sulaibiya Industrial Expansion Area, circumventing the Municipal Council's approval for a couple of specific plots in exchange for a cool KD 50,000 from a company.
The deal led to skyrocketing profits for both Al-Harees and the company, as the later sale of the two plots for KD 780,000 netted a substantial financial gain due to the increased value per square meter following the change in activity. As a result, the court found him guilty of illicit gains and forgery.
Additionally, the court ruled that Al-Harees should be barred from holding any public position and dismissed him from his previous post. This high-profile corruption case has garnered significant attention, acting as a significant step in the ongoing fight against corrupt practices among high-ranking officials in Kuwait. The case underscores the importance of accountability, transparency, and ethical behavior among those serving in public office.
However, the specifics of asset declaration issues, land designation modifications, and the exact financial benefits involved in this case are not extensively detailed in the available reports. Further investigation may reveal additional insights into the full extent of the corruption implicated in this matter.
- The ruling against former minister Mubarak Al-Harees, chaired by Counselor Abdullah Jassim, occurred in the Criminal Court of Cassation in Kuwait.
- The verdict was a result of Al-Harees' actions in politics, including influence-peddling and accepting bribes, which led to a forgery of an asset declaration.
- The general-news and crime-and-justice sectors have reported that, as a consequence of this corrupt practice, Al-Harees received illegal profits and was barred from holding any public position.
- The substantial attention this high-profile corruption case has garnered in Kuwait serves as a significant benefit for the ongoing fight against similar corrupt practices among high-ranking officials, emphasizing the necessity of accountability, transparency, and ethical behavior.
