Kuwait’s Cassation Court Hands Down Multiple Prison Sentences in Political Cases

KUWAIT CITY, Sep 6: The Criminal Division of Kuwait’s Court of Cassation has sentenced former MPs Muhannad Al-Sayer and Saleh Al-Mulla to prison terms in cases involving charges including challenging the powers of His Highness the Amir, broadcasting false news and misuse of a telephone.

The court sentenced Al-Sayer to three years in prison with hard labor, while Al-Mulla was sentenced to two years with hard labor. The cases were linked to statements and posts published through social media platforms.

In a separate ruling, the court sentenced former MP Bader Al-Dahoum to one year in prison with hard labor for insulting judges of the Constitutional Court during an election-related event.

The Court of Cassation also overturned an earlier Court of Appeals ruling that had refrained from imposing a sentence on a social media user accused of broadcasting false news and harming the country’s internal affairs. The court instead sentenced the defendant to three years in prison with hard labor.

The defendant had been referred to trial over posts on his personal social media accounts concerning Cabinet decisions, which authorities considered the dissemination of false news.

Earlier rulings in some of the cases had included acquittals, suspended sentences and bail pending final judgments. The latest Court of Cassation decisions represent the final rulings in the cases.