ulffamily receives 7-year prison sentence, fined KD 2.5 million due to citizenship fraud
In the latest news, a Kuwaiti citizen found guilty of forging nationality to illegally reap state perks has met a fate similar to his deceptive acts. This violent twist unfolded after it was exposed that he had placed Gulf nationals on his nationality roster, with investigations uncovering a trail of twelve such fraudulent cases.
The Criminal Court, under the watchful eye of Counselor Dr. Khaled Al-Omara, handed down a seven-year jail sentence and a hefty fine of KD 2.5 million to a Gulf father and his two offspring, involved in the very same deceitful acts. According to Arabic daily Al Qabas, the family conspired with a Kuwaiti citizen way back in 1989, agreeing to add the Gulf national's children to the Kuwaiti's nationality register under assumed identities. The fraudulent endeavor was carried out by submitting inaccurate information and data to the General Directorate of Nationality and Passports to procure passports and civil ID cards.
The case took a dismal turn as the Kuwaiti citizen at the heart of this scandal ceased to exist after being linked to this forgery saga. The ongoing investigation has unearthed a network of illicit activities, revealing no less than twelve cases of fabricated nationality.
In keeping with the verdict, the Gulf defendants are now mandated to restore the unlawful state privileges they had unscrupulously received.
It's worth noting that individuals dabbling in forgery or illicitly claiming Kuwaiti citizenship face severe consequences. Here's a quick rundown of the relevant laws and repercussions:
- Forgery and acquisition of citizenship through deceit or dual citizenship can lead to the stripping of citizenship, rendering the offenders ineligible for legal residence or work permits, and exposure to "severe penalties" as cautioned by the Interior Minister.
- Engaging in forgery can result in substantial fines and extended imprisonment, according to the Penal Code. The specific penalties for forging citizenship were not mentioned in the recent reports.
- Stripping off citizenship under exceptional circumstances like Article 13 may lead to frozen pensions, as the Social Insurance Institution only offers benefits to Kuwaiti nationals. Engaging in fraud can also result in sanctions such as closure of illegal ventures, deportation, financial penalties, and public notification of offenses.
- In a bid to put a halt to fraudulent activities, Kuwait has adopted DNA and biometric testing to verify citizenship claims, making it increasingly difficult to falsify nationality applications.
- The Kuwaiti citizen who was found guilty of forging citizenship to illegally acquire state perks is now facing severe penalties, as mentioned by the Interior Minister.
- In addition to the jail sentence, the Gulf father and his two offspring, also involved in forgery, were fined KD 2.5 million, as described by the Criminal Court.
- Politics in Kuwait is taking strong action against forgery, with the stripping of citizenship being a possible consequence for those found guilty, as outlined in the Penal Code.
- As a result of the forgery saga, a network of illicit activities has been exposed, leading to the discovery of twelve cases of fabricated nationality, as reported by general news sources.
