Bill sets one year jail, KD 3,000 fine for sexual harassment

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KUWAIT CITY, Feb 13: MPs Abdullah Al-Mudaf, Mehalhal Al-Mudaf, Muhannad Al-Sayer, Badr Al-Mullah and Hassan Jawhar submitted a bill regarding sexual harassment in response to a report aired on Al-Qabas TV recently.

The bill defines sexual harassment, which is punishable by law, as something said, done or hints sexual impression by an individual targeting another; causing the latter embarrassment or harming the body.

According to the bill, anyone who witnesses such action should immediately report to the concerned authorities. It mandates the Ministry of Interior to specify technical methods for receiving such calls and to guarantee the privacy and security of the whistleblower.

Anyone convicted of sexual harassment is imprisoned for a maximum period of one year and fined KD 3,000 maximum or any of these penalties. In case the crime is repeated, the perpetrator will be imprisoned for five years maximum and fined KD 5,000 maximum or any of these penalties.

The executive decree on the law will be issued within three months after its ratification.

On the same issue, MP Abdulaziz Al- Saqaabi proposed amending Penal Code number 16/1960 in order to add an article stipulating that whoever sexually or immorally attacks another in words or action will be imprisoned for three years maximum and fined KD 3,000 maximum or any of these penalties.

In case the attack results in physical damage to the victim or destruction of his properties, the penalties include five years imprisonment maximum and fine of KD 5,000 maximum or any of these penalties.

The court has the right to publish the verdict in a daily newspaper and the corresponding expenses will be shouldered by the offender.

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