5 get 7 years for embezzlement

15/04/2026

Kuwait Court

KUWAIT CITY, April 15: The Court of Appeals sentenced five individuals to seven years in prison with hard labor and fined them KD38,000 for money laundering, forgery and embezzlement. This ruling concludes the case that started in 2022. The Court of First Instance initially acquitted the defendants, but the Public Prosecution appealed the decision. Case files indicate that the defendants and an unidentified accomplice organized a criminal ring to defraud the victim.

They orchestrated the scheme by presenting a fake investment opportunity and deceiving her into installing software that gave them access to her personal banking information. Through unauthorized money transfers, the group stole KD19,000 from the victim’s account. These funds were deposited into the accounts of the defendant and were withdrawn in cash later.

A portion of the stolen money was laundered abroad, while the rest was utilized for cryptocurrency purchases. The court found the group guilty of falsifying bank documents and account statements. They were also convicted of manipulating withdrawal data in the automated banking system for their illicit transactions to look legitimate. The Court of Appeals reversed the acquittal ruling issued by the First Instance Court, imposed the prison sentence, ordered the confiscation of all criminal proceeds and deportation of the main defendant upon completion of his prison term.

By Jaber Al-Hamoud Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff