KUWAIT CITY, Dec 9: The Public Pro-secution recently summoned for investigation several officials working for the Finance Intelligence Unit of the Central Bank of Kuwait (CBK) for questioning on the financial deposits involving several members of the now dissolved National Assembly. They are said to have demanded to know the source of the money, reports Al-Anba daily quoting reliable banking sources.

The sources said the Prosecution is asking why there was a delay in implementing bank procedures and/or detecting financial irregularities or suspicious movements and why the Central Bank mechanism failed in detecting the alleged money laundering activities. The Prosecution also wants to know if the bank to any extent failed in complying with the instructions and why.

The sources added the officials of the Financial Intelligence Unit in the CBK are said to have told the Prosecution the rules and regulations are being observed in the banking system in Kuwait.
They also said the CBK inspection teams have carried out their work perfectly during the last period and the banks were not affected by applying the instructions or laws of CBK in this regard.
It should be noted that following completion of the investigations with CBK officials the Public Prosecution will summon at least 15 former MPs who have already been referred to the Prosecution because their accounts suddenly swelled.

Meanwhile, the Attorney General and the Public Prosecutor in a recent meeting discussed the MPs bank accounts issue currently under investigation at the Public Prosecution, besides the Central Bank’s employee summoned in connection with those accounts, reports Al-Kuwaitiya daily.

Invite
According to news circulating in the Justice Palace, the public prosecution in the next few days will invite the MPs in question for investigation, the daily explained.

In a related development, MP Abdulrahman Al-Anjari told the daily that steps have been taken by Public Prosecution to invite those involved in the multimillion deposits issue, and Kuwaitis are looking forward to the truth with the judiciary. He maintains that the issue poses a great challenge to HH the premier Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak at this period when citizens are demanding reform.

In another development, there are reports that the Public Prosecution asked the Interior Ministry to arrest former lawmakers who stormed the parliament on Nov 16th, especially since they have lost their immunity after the dissolution of the parliament, reports Al-Seyassah daily. Sources within the Public Prosecution, however, have denied the reports.

Meanwhile, Secretary-General of the National Assembly Allam Al-Kandari said the secretariat-general issued a decision, ending the deputation of lawmakers’ secretaries and asked them to go back to their original jobs, reports Al-Wasat daily.

He said the secretaries have been given grace period until Dec 15th. Also, the lawmakers were told to return their cars by Wednesday and “if anyone wants to keep the car, he/she will have to pay daily rental charges,” added Al-Kandari.