Juvenile acquitted of smoking in mall

13/10/2026

KUWAIT CITY, Oct 13: The Court of Appeals acquitted a juvenile of smoking at The Avenues Mall, thereby, overturning a lower court ruling that put him under judicial probation for one month. The higher court based its decision on doubts regarding the validity of the charge, indicating that the official violation report only stated that the infraction occurred in the mall without specifying the exact location, while the case file lacked evidence to convict the defendant.

It stressed that criminal judgments must be based on certainty rather than conjecture or speculation, and that doubt regarding the validity of the charge is sufficient ground for acquittal. The Court of First Instance previously convicted the juvenile and ordered him to serve judicial probation for one month under the supervision of a probation officer. However, the Court of Appeals overturned this ruling and acquitted him, pursuant to Article 209 of the Code of Criminal Procedure and Trials.

In an awareness message following the announcement of the verdict, Attorney Mohammad Al-Ansari stated that smoking harms the health of young people and those around them. He added that while smoking in enclosed public spaces is a violation punishable by law, proving the offense requires sufficient evidence. He called for raising awareness among young people regarding the dangers of smoking and the relevant legal provisions, pointing out that a violation some might consider minor could lead to legal proceedings reaching the Juvenile Court.

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