KUWAIT CITY, July 28: The Criminal Court sentenced an expatriate man to five years in prison to be followed by deportation for indecently touching a female employee at an undisclosed ministry. Case files indicate the employee accused the expatriate of touching her hand while his car was passing beside her in the ministry’s parking lot. The defendant, who also works in the ministry, vehemently denied the accusation, stressing he did not touch the woman’s hand deliberately as his hand was hanging out of the window while he was getting out of the parking area. However, the court found the woman’s version of the story more convincing than that of the expatriate, who was declared guilty of harassing his co-worker.

Citizen acquitted: The Appeals Court presided by Judge Ibrahim Al-Obaid acquitted a citizen accused of kidnapping, rape and making a baby out of wedlock. Also, the court cancelled a 10-year imprisonment sentence against the man. The case file indicates the defendant had lured the plaintiff to an apartment after he swore his sister was awaiting the girl’s arrival. Apparently, the defendant promised to marry the girl and she thought the defendant was going to make a formal introduction, in the presence of his sister. However, he had sex with the girl by force when they went to the flat and promised to marry her if she didn’t file a case.

Meanwhile, DNA proved the baby belonged to the citizen, after the girl filed a case against the citizen for impregnating her. However, he denied the child was his during investigations. The defense attorney argued the story contradicts the outcome of investigations since the girl was actually in a relationship with the defendant when she agreed to go to the flat with him. Also, she drove her car and followed the man to the flat voluntarily, therefore she had willingly given herself to him. The court agreed no kidnapping or crime had taken place, since the complainant and defendant agreed to marry.

Expat not guilty: The Criminal Court acquitted an expatriate of trafficking in drugs. Case files indicate the expatriate was arrested through an entrapment when a team of anti-narcotics officers sent an undercover agent to purchase drugs from him after receiving information on his illegal activity. However, the lawyer for the accused argued in court that the search and arrest warrant issued by the Public Prosecution was not valid due to the inconclusive results of the investigations. He asked the court to acquit his client due to lack of incriminating evidence.

3 firemen, 2 Kuwaitis hurt; 16 Pakistanis rescued: Acting on information firemen rushed to the sixth floor of the Al-Sawaber Complex in downtown Kuwait City and put out fire. According to eyewitness reports the firemen were divided into two groups — one group was tasked with rescuing the residents of the complex and the other to fight the flames. The same reports said the flames engulfed the seventh floor of the complex before firemen brought the fire under control. The reports said 16 Pakistanis lived on the sixth floor. Three firemen and two Kuwaitis suffering from asphyxiation were rushed to a hospital for treatment. Some other residents of the complex who inhaled fumes were treated on the spot by paramedics.