Funds scandal case shelved

12/02/2026

KUWAIT CITY, Feb 12 : The Criminal Court, presided over by Judge Abdullah Al-Osaimi, overturned the decision of the Public Prosecution to dismiss the case regarding the embezzlement of public funds in a thermal camera maintenance tender at the Ministry of Interior. The court also ordered referral of the nine defendants for trial, including former senior officials in the Ministry of Interior, an engineer, technicians and representatives of two contracting companies.

The defendants are accused of involvement in the embezzlement of KD1,889,000 of public funds by one of the companies, harming national interests, forgery and negligence of duty. The case was based on the report of the State Audit Bureau (SAB) about the thermal camera maintenance contract for 2012 and 2013. The report included remarks on the supply and installation of an underground invisible system, as well as network and equipment maintenance.

The Public Prosecution previously decided to close the case and dismiss the suspicion of crimes, but the Criminal Court, while considering the appeal against the closure decision, returned the case to the prosecution to complete the investigations. After completing the procedures, the court decided to cancel the closure decision and refer the accused for trial.

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