publish time

27/09/2023

author name Arab Times

publish time

27/09/2023

KUWAIT CITY, Sept 27: Expressing hope for a favorable resolution in the case of Kuwaiti citizen Mubarak Al-Ajmi, who was wrongly detained in Thailand under allegations of mobile phone theft, Kuwait's Ambassador to Thailand, HE Muhammad Al-Failakawi, said, "We anticipate a positive outcome upon appeal, and we remain optimistic for good news."

Al-Failakawi told Al-Seyassah daily that the Kuwaiti embassy is actively following up Al-Ajmi's case, emphasizing, "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is fully informed about the case and has taken all necessary steps."

Al-Ajmi, accompanied by his father, was in Thailand for medical treatment for six months. While they were on their way back home, he was arrested at the Bangkok airport, due to a misunderstanding when an airport staff member accidentally swapped Al-Ajmi's phone with another passenger's similar-looking phone. This misunderstanding led the passenger to falsely accuse Mubarak of theft.

In an extortion attempt, the passenger demanded 100,000 baht (approximately 850 Kuwaiti dinars) to drop the fabricated accusation.

However, Al-Ajmi refused, resulting in his detention for a month and a half and a subsequent unjust sentence of one and a half years in prison.

The incident gained the attention of social media users, highlighting Al-Ajmi's continued detention in a hotel despite being released on bail, along with the financial hardships he endured, such as the suspension of his Kuwaiti salary due to work absence.

Meanwhile, a Thai channel transcribed and aired the incident, providing evidence of Mubarak Al-Ajmi's innocence in the alleged theft and revealing the moment showing the airport employee mistakenly swapped the phones.