Attempts exerted to prevent extension of Jalahmah detention; probe fate unknown

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Govt must take action against defendant: MP Al-Fadl

KUWAIT CITY, July 18: Just days after the Minister of Justice and Minister of Endowments, Dr Fahad Al-Afasi, suspended the Secretary-General of Awqaf and Islamic, Muhammad Al-Jalahmah, on the background of ongoing investigations with him regarding suspicious financial and administrative irregularities – for which Al-Jalahmah is held accountable – there are attempts to prevent the extension of his detention and allow him to perform his duties while the fate of the investigations remain suspended, reports Al-Seyassah daily.

Reliable sources told the daily Minister Al-Afasi is under pressure to return Al-Jalahmah to work despite the ongoing investigations, noting that there is a wave of discontent in announcing the results of the investigation, and the Minister’s failure to follow up the file that was previously submitted to the Public Prosecution based on the recommendations of the Public Authority for Anti-Corruption ‘Nazaha’.

The sources expressed their fear that the file may ‘stutter’ in light of the government’s preoccupation with other vital issues and the corona crisis and allowing the Secretary-General to return to work, and warned Al-Afasi might yield to pressure and turn a blind eye to the file as he did the first time when he was forced to stop Al-Jalahmah from discharging his duties for 5 months.

Sources referred to the record of “disasters and scandals” contained in the Audit Bureau’s report during the Al-Jalahmah era, which includes neglecting public responsibility and the reputation of the endowment work and manipulating the valuation of the properties of the Awqaf Trust and investing in them, noting that the regulatory reports agreed that Al-Jalahmah was responsible for administrative and financial violations that require referral to the Public Prosecution and withdraw of all the authorities granted to him.

Sources pointed out that his appointment in the first place came as an “electoral political deal”, after he was nominated for that position by the former minister, Yaqoub Al-Sane’a, and he adopted his approval from the Council of Ministers to satisfy the ‘Muslim Brotherhood’.

For his part, MP Ahmad Al-Fadl asserted that it is not permissible for any official referred to the investigation to return to his position, especially if the matter is related to the General Secretariat of Endowments, considering that the return of the Secretary-General to “Endowments” is not correct. He explained that the Secretary- General is referred to the Prosecution in a corruption case through Nazaha and not to take any decision is a matter that condemns the government and contradicts its conduct and that of the prime minister in combating corruption.

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