Concert, dance … fashion shows – Outraged MPs urge probe

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KUWAIT CITY, Dec 3: Several MPs have asked Minister of Education and Higher Education Dr Bader Al- Essa to immediately open an investigation into the concert, dance and fashion shows organized by the Girls College of Basic Education Home Economics Department at the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training (PAAET).

MP Mansour Al-Zufairi urged the minister to look into the alleged violations as the organizers are said to have acted against the educational and moral values of the Kuwaiti society. He warned about the dire consequences if the allegations are proven true considering the incident happened in an academic institution.

He said there have been speculations that some faculty members at the college urged the female students to participate in the show by promising to add points to their grades. He wondered what steps have been taken by the administration of the college in dealing with such disgraceful acts, especially since the administration is purportedly aware of the shows being held inside the campus.

He also stressed the need to take legal action against anyone who will be proven to be involved in immoral and uncivilized activities in the academe. He pointed out this is unacceptable in a conservative Muslim society which adheres to local customs and traditions.

He finds it surprising that the Deanship of the Basic Education Faculty has remained silent over the incident.

In a related development, MP Mohammad Tana has forwarded queries to the minister regarding the issue. He said he obtained information that the shows were organized under the supervision of Home Economics Department President Dr Sabra Al-Fahad and Dr Haifa Al-Anjari with the attendance of the faculty members, Dr Mohammed Al-Kandari and Professor Mishari Al-Zamil and other professors.

He wants to know if the shows are part of the requirements for completion of the course, if the students were forced to buy costumes from a shop in Mubarakiya Market, if the students were forced to pay for the concert and the money was given to Dr Sabra Al-Fahad, if the teachers threatened to deduct points from the grades of students in case they don’t participate in the show, and the steps taken to address the issue.

Meanwhile, the Public Funds Protection Committee on Thursday discussed with representatives of the Justice Ministry, Public Institution for Social Security, Fatwa and Legislation Department, and State Audit Bureau the embezzlement case against former director of the Public Institution for Social Security  including the seizure of his assets.

Committee Chairman MP Abdullah Al-Turaiji said the panel members were briefed on the procedures taken by the Fatwa and Legislation Department which has been tasked to follow up the case. He disclosed the seized assets (money and real estate properties) of the accused in Switzerland are estimated at 82 million Swiss Francs and 128 million Sterling Pounds in Britain. He affirmed there have been attempts to seize properties in other countries like America, Dubai, Cairo, France and Bahrain are underway.

Al-Turaiji added the Attorney General issued a decision on Aug 25, 2015 to confiscate the assets , his wife and his sons in Kuwait. He said a file on one of the sub-cases was also attributed to the former director of the authority. He explained this is known as ‘Options Case’ because it is related to speculations in the US market through which the authority incurred enormous losses estimated at KD 300 million. He revealed one of the former managers at the authority was referred to a local court for purportedly conniving with accused.

By Abubakar A. Ibrahim Arab Times Staff

This news has been read 8306 times!