Has Kuwait become a paradise for swindlers?
This news has been read 4705 times!
May God blacken your face’ is an age-old adage but still lingers among people. Despite its persistence, this saying holds no virtue, and many are unfamiliar with its origin. Its roots trace back to ancient times when, before imprisonment, the face of someone sentenced for a crime would be blackened. Coal was placed on a donkey, and it was paraded around the market, announcing the individual’s name and crime — a way to inform the public and serve as a deterrent.
In contemporary Kuwait, the judicial system pronounces sentences on numerous citizens and residents, yet the public remains uninformed.
This lack of transparency allows perpetrators, particularly those engaged in defrauding innocent people, to persist in their crimes.
Consequently, Kuwait has inadvertently become a haven for con artists who roam freely, especially following the abolishment of arrest and habeas corpus. Presently, our newspapers are replete with reports of scams, all sourced from credible, official channels.
One recent distressing report in our newspapers highlighted the arrest of an Indian fraudster wanted for a million dinars. He had amassed 38 convictions related to fraud, theft, and breach of trust.
Despite his residency having expired nine years ago, he managed to escape imprisonment until recently when he was apprehended. This individual, disrespecting the law and society, is now being sustained by public funds.
In another disconcerting case, an Arab resident was sentenced to seven years in prison for orchestrating a fraudulent real estate scheme, collecting an estimated 25 million dinars. He faces around 100 cases in Kuwaiti courts and is currently evading authorities outside Kuwait.
These instances merely scratch the surface, not considering the real estate fraud cases where thousands of citizens fall victim. Thus, in 2017, as a concerned citizen, I twice wrote to the Ministry of Interior, urging the creation of a publicly accessible website or network displaying wanted individuals. This platform should also publicize the names of those subject to final judgments from the judiciary, warning citizens of potential dangers. Unfortunately, there has been no response to this proposal.
As Kuwait inadvertently becomes a sanctuary for swindlers, their victims are left to bear the brunt of their schemes. This predicament is akin to “eating sour grapes,” a phrase originating from the Bible, conveying that while swindlers enjoy the ripe grapes their victims are left with the unripe, sour ones.
May God aid the innocent and guide Sheikh Talal Al-Khaled, the proactive Minister of Interior, to consider and implement our proposal.
Establishing a network for wanted individuals and sharing information about those convicted by the judiciary would go a long way in safeguarding our community. We remain hopeful for a positive response and proactive measures to secure the well-being of our people.
e-mail: [email protected]
By Ahmad alsarraf
This news has been read 4705 times!
