Kuwaiti woman detained after allegedly insulting municipality inspector

KUWAIT CITY, Aug 23: A Kuwaiti woman has been detained at Al-Salhiya Police Station after allegedly verbally insulting a Kuwait Municipality inspector while he was carrying out his official duties, according to a security source.

The incident came to the attention of the Ministry of Interior’s operations room after the inspector reported that the woman had directed offensive remarks at him without apparent justification. A security patrol was dispatched to the location, where the woman’s identification documents were taken and she was instructed to accompany officers to the police station for further investigation.

At the station, the investigator heard the inspector’s account of the incident. He reportedly told authorities that the woman had used inappropriate and insulting language against him while he was performing his duties and that several people had witnessed what happened.

The investigator subsequently summoned the witnesses and recorded their statements. According to the security source, the witnesses corroborated the inspector’s account, strengthening the case against the woman.

The woman was then questioned about the incident. Her explanation was reportedly deemed insufficient to justify the alleged insult, prompting the investigator to order her detention in the station’s women’s holding cell pending her referral to the competent authorities. She was also allowed to contact her family and inform them of her whereabouts.

The case comes as Kuwait law provides specific penalties for insulting or assaulting public officials while they are performing their duties. Article 134 stipulates that anyone who verbally insults or uses gestures to insult a public official during the performance of their duties, or because of those duties, may face imprisonment for up to three months and a fine ranging from KD 100 to KD 300, or either penalty.

The law imposes heavier penalties when the victim is a judge, Public Prosecution member, police officer, member of the armed forces or National Guard. In such cases, an insult committed while the official is performing their duties can carry up to one year in prison and a fine of KD 300 to KD 1,000, or either penalty.

Article 135 deals with more serious conduct, including assaulting or forcibly resisting a public official while they are performing their duties. Such an offense can result in up to one year in prison and a fine ranging from KD 300 to KD 1,000, or either penalty.

If the assault involves a judge, prosecutor, police officer, military personnel or National Guard member covered under the relevant provisions, the punishment can increase to up to two years in prison and a fine of KD 500 to KD 2,000.

The law provides even more severe penalties when police, military or National Guard personnel are assaulted while dispersing a gathering, meeting, demonstration, procession or assembly with the intention of resisting them or obstructing their duties. In such cases, the penalty can reach five years in prison and a fine ranging from KD 1,000 to KD 5,000, or either penalty.

The woman remains in custody pending further legal proceedings and referral to the competent authorities.