KUWAIT CITY, Feb 22: The Court of Appeals presided over by Judge Ibrahim Al-Obeid, upheld the verdict of the Court of First Instance which acquitted a juvenile from the charge of kidnapping a student with the intention to rape him.
The court also cancelled the sentence of one-month imprisonment and fine of KD 50 against the juvenile and acquitted him of the charge of driving a vehicle without a driving license.
According to eyewitnesses, the suspect drove the car to school and had asked the victim to get into the car. The victim was surprised when he was informed about the suspect’s intentions to rape as he drove the car towards Sulaibiya. The victim escaped when the car stopped at a traffic signal.
Attorney Hassan Al-Ajmi requested the court to acquit his client based on the illogicality of the story and lack of sufficient evidence.

Journo acquitted: The Court of Appeals has acquitted journalist Salem Al-Wawan of tarnishing the reputation of Kuwait Union of Domestic Labor Offices (KUDLO) Chairman Fadel Al-Ghloum.
In a press statement Wednesday, the defendant’s lawyer, Attorney Dr Badr Jassem Al-Yacoub, disclosed the Public Prosecution had earlier charged Al-Wawan with damaging the reputation of Al-Ghloum due to the remarks he made in a television program shown on Scope Channel on March 4, 2010.  The case was later referred to the Court of First Instance, which acquitted Al-Wawan on May 31, 2011.  However, the Prosecution appealed the ruling of the lower court.
After analyzing the pieces of evidence and arguments presented by both parties, the Appeals Court acquitted Al-Wawan.
The session was presided over by Judges Ali Al-Dari and Ezat Abul Khair.

Decision today: The court will decide on Thursday whether to extend the detention of 58 Bedouns accused of participating in illegal gatherings in Taima or release them after being detained for 21 days to complete investigations on the case.
Attorney Mohammad Khuraibet, lawyer for one of the accused, disclosed his intention to demand his client’s release on grounds that the detention is a form of human rights violation.  He also asked the court to take into consideration the condition of his client and his father, pointing out that the previous errors of the government have prompted the Bedouns to hold demonstrations.
Accusing the government of failure to grant citizenship to deserving applicants, Khuraibet said if the Bedouns Committee has affirmed that 30,000 applicants are eligible for naturalization, then the country has deprived them of their constitutional right.

Court orders comp: The Court of Appeals has ordered a man and his father to pay KD1,000 to his wife and her parents as compensation for forcing her to sign a confession that she was pregnant before their marriage and falsely accusing her parents of helping her conceal the pregnancy.
The defense lawyer, Ayed Al-Rashidi, argued in court that the man and his father have damaged the reputation of his clients.  He said the wife signed the confession under duress, because the plaintiffs tortured her up to the extent of pouring hot water on her body.
Earlier, the man filed for divorce but the Personal Status Court dismissed the case for lack of legal merit.
The session was presided over by Judge Abdisalam Al-Ba’ejan.