KUWAIT CITY, Dec 7: Detectives in the Hawally Governorate have referred a Palestinian expatriate to the Public Prosecution after completing investigations into a financial embezzlement case involving a travel agency where he was employed.

According to a security source, the accused admitted during questioning to embezzling 35,000 Kuwaiti dinars from the travel agency. The referral to the Public Prosecution came after the company formally rejected his apology and insisted on pursuing legal action.

The source explained that the case began when a lawyer representing the travel agency filed a complaint with the authorities following the discovery of financial discrepancies during an internal audit. The audit revealed that 35,000 dinars had gone missing over a period of time, prompting the company to conduct its own investigation.

Further inquiries revealed that the suspect, born in 1989, had exploited the trust placed in him by the company. As part of his duties, he was responsible for arranging travel and hotel reservations for clients. Instead of directing payments to the company’s official accounts, he allegedly provided clients with bank details linked to his personal account, thereby diverting the funds without the company’s knowledge.

The complainant submitted supporting documents to investigators, including invoices bearing the suspect’s signature, as well as a handwritten apology letter addressed to both the company and its clients. In the letter, the suspect admitted to the embezzlement and pleaded with the company not to pursue legal action against him.

Upon registering the case, it was referred to the Hawally Criminal Investigation Department, which proceeded to arrest the suspect. During interrogation, he was confronted with the submitted evidence and confessed in detail to the crime. He admitted to depositing the embezzled funds into his personal bank account, abusing the power of attorney granted to him by the company owner, and believing that his actions would go unnoticed.

Investigators were able to trace the suspect’s personal bank account and confirmed deposits consistent with the amount embezzled, further strengthening the case against him. Following the completion of the investigation, the file was referred to the Public Prosecution, which ordered the suspect’s remand to the Central Prison pending legal proceedings. His name was also placed on a travel ban list in anticipation of any potential release while the case remains under review.

The Public Prosecution has instructed authorities to continue investigations to determine whether the suspect carried out additional financial transactions using the same fraudulent method.

A security source emphasized the importance of implementing strict accounting and oversight systems within companies to prevent financial crimes committed by unscrupulous employees. He noted that had the suspect managed to flee the country, the company would have faced significant difficulties in recovering the embezzled funds.