KUWAIT, Oct 28 (KUNA) -- Kuwait's Public Prosecution referred 73 defendants to the criminal court implicated in commercial draw manipulation case, on charges including bribery, mediation, forgery of official and electronic documents, and money laundering.
The Public Prosecution on Tuesday issued a statement regarding the case of manipulation in commercial draws conducted under the supervision of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry during the period from 2021 to 2025.
The Public Prosecution stated that, upon completion of investigations, it had referred the defendants to the criminal court after conclusive evidence established a common intent and criminal purpose among the perpetrators.
It added that both cash and in-kind assets had been seized as part of efforts to recover illicit proceeds, in preparation for taking the legal measures.
It further explained that the manipulation extended to 110 commercial draws that offered prizes including vehicles, cash sums, and in-kind assets, with an estimated total value of KD 1.244,467 million (approx. USD 4 million).
The statement noted that investigations were conducted by a specialized team of public prosecutors who examined the facts of the case, gathered evidence, and heard witness statements in coordination with relevant authorities to ensure that all financial, technical, and legal aspects were thoroughly addressed.
The Public Prosecution added that the investigations uncovered an organized criminal network that deliberately tampered with the results of several commercial draws, compromising the fairness of their procedures. The network exploited public office and weaknesses in oversight to obtain unlawful financial gains, which were later shared among its members.
"The investigations revealed that these acts were carried out within a complex, well-coordinated criminal structure characterized by planning and coordination among its members. Their aim was to unlawfully seize the prizes of the draws through systematic fraudulent practices based on deception and misrepresentation, constituting a grave violation of the principles of transparency and integrity stipulated by law," the statement added.
It continued, "Evidence confirmed that the defendants acted in concert to carry out the manipulation, using forged official documents and fictitious waivers to transfer the prizes to the actual beneficiaries of the fraud, in return for direct and indirect financial payments-some in the form of bribes, brokerage, or other monetary benefits derived from participation in these acts." The statement further indicated that the proceeds of these crimes were re-invested in multiple financial transactions that were deliberately disguised to conceal their illicit nature in an attempt to evade legal scrutiny.
The Public Prosecution affirmed its firm commitment to upholding the rule of law, protecting rights, and ensuring justice with impartiality and integrity.
On March 27, the Public Prosecution had ordered the detention of a citizen and five expatriates following extensive investigations that revealed their involvement in serious crimes that shocked public opinion, including forgery of official documents, bribery of a public official, facilitation of embezzlement of state funds, money laundering, and other major offenses that caused severe harm to the country's national interests.
The statement noted that these decisive measures were taken in light of recent social media reports concerning the involvement of a public official at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, who supervised the draws of the Kuwait Shopping Festival, Ya Hala.
On March 28, Public Prosecutor Counselor Saad Al-Safran ordered that investigations into the Ya Hala Shopping Festival draws be conducted confidentially and that publication of any related news or statements be prohibited. (end) ns.aai