KUWAIT CITY, May 18: The Criminal Court acquitted a young man of intentionally injuring and threatening a citizen while they were on a sports walkway due to a lack of conclusive evidence. The Public Prosecution charged the defendant with intentionally causing harm to the victim, as described in the forensic medical report, which resulted in severe physical pain. He also insulted the victim in a public place by using the phrases described in the investigations, in full view of the public. He uttered threatening phrases described in the investigations to prevent the victim from calling for help during the assault, with the intent of instilling fear in him.

Attorney Abdullah Al-Alanda appeared before the court and argued that the delay in reporting the case, the lack of any charges against his client, and the absence of any evidence other than the victim’s statements and the investigations were insufficient to incriminate his client. Al-Alanda asserted that, concerning the crime stipulated in Article 173/1 of the Penal Code, the charge was not supported by material and moral elements like criminal intent, lack of evidence, and lack of evidence in the documents. It should be noted that the penalty stipulated by law in this case, if the charge is proven, is five years' imprisonment. Article 173 of the Kuwaiti Penal Code states that “anyone who threatens a person with any harm, whatever it may be, shall be punished by death.”

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