EXPAT FUNDS TO STATE COFFERS … FINES, JAIL FOR DODGERS – MP proposes bill on remittance tax
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KUWAIT CITY, Jan 5: MP Faisal Al-Kandari on Thursday submitted a proposal to impose tax on the remittances of expatriates.
Article One of the bill stipulates imposing tax on money that expatriates send outside Kuwait.
Article Two states that the remittance tax must go to the State’s coffers.
Two percent tax will be imposed on remittances less than KD 100, four percent for KD 100 to KD 499, and five percent for KD 500 or more.
Article Three obliges accredited banks and money exchange companies to send money orders and cheques to the Finance Ministry for proper control.
Article Four stipulates a jail sentence of up to six months or fine of up to KD 10,000 for those who will send money without paying the corresponding tax.
Meanwhile, MP Waleed Al-Tabtabaei intends to submit a grilling request against Minister of Information and State Minister for Youth Affairs Sheikh Salman Al-Hamoud next week. He said the interpellation consists of four key issues including his direct responsibility over the suspension of Kuwait’s sporting activity, public money, and financial and administrative irregularities.
In a related development, the Youth and Sport Affairs Committee discussed Thursday the suspension of local sports. Committee Chairman MP Sadoun Hammad Al- Otaibi confirmed that they received the government draft law in this regard, indicating the bill consists of 74 articles. He added they agreed to send a letter about the suspension to the international federation.
Former Al-Tadamun Sports Club Chairman Yousif Al- Baidan added they discussed the three letters of the International Olympic Committee on the resumption of Kuwait’s sporting activity. “We have stressed the importance of the return of unions. We also talked about the steps taken by the Public Authority for Sport and its role in enacting law number 34 which allowed the minister to dissolve the unions so the situation worsened,” he said.
He pointed out the new government draft law will lead to the resumption of Kuwait’s sporting activity, suggesting the bill should be presented to the International Olympic Committee prior to its ratification. Moreover, a delegation from the Human Rights Committee along with MPs Riyadh Al-Adsani and Safa Al- Hashem visited the Central Prison to look into the condition of prisoners, procedures in the General Department for Correctional Institutions and services offered to prisoners.
Assistant Undersecretary Brigadier Adel Ibrahim, who currently serves as head of the department, disclosed the rehabilitation program for drug addicts sentenced to jail for a period not exceeding five years with a chance to be paroled involves six institutions. After being granted parole, the concerned inmates will be required to visit the department every two weeks to ensure they will not consume drugs again. In case the offense is repeated, they will continue serving the prison term, he explained.
On the other hand, Al-Hashem requested the prison administration to increase the budget for buying materials for handicrafts and manufacturing for the women’s prison. “We were keen on visiting the women’s prison. I reject all forms of discrimination against women,” she added saying the votes she got during the National Assembly election were for women.
MP Jaman Al-Harbash disclosed they visited the political prisoners ward and denied rumors spread on social media platforms that former MP Musallam Al-Barrak refused to meet them. He affirmed that he and the committee members sat down with Al- Barrak for one hour and a half.
In addition, Al-Harbash suggested visiting prisoners involved in State security cases and political issues, while MP Abdul-Kareem Al-Kandari called for visiting female inmates in the Deportation Center. Moreover, acting Assistant Undersecretary for Correctional Institution Affairs Brigadier Majed Al-Majed welcomed the parliamentary delegation, affirming the department is ready to cooperate with the lawmakers.
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