Retired Kuwaiti accuses military officer of KD 9,000 fraud after failed investment

KUWAIT CITY, Sept 9: A retired citizen has accused a military officer of defrauding him of KD 9,000 after allegedly persuading him to invest in a business project that promised profitable returns.

According to a security source, the retiree told Al-Ardiya police that he met the officer by chance at a café, where the officer said he was involved in private business and had an investment project capable of generating good financial returns. Convinced by the proposal, the citizen handed over KD 9,000 and waited for more than a year for the promised returns. When he eventually asked about his money, the officer reportedly told him that the project had failed and suffered losses, preventing him from returning the amount.

The complainant said the officer subsequently told him that if he had additional funds, he could invest them in another project, with the expected returns being used to compensate for the earlier losses. The citizen then went to Al-Ardiya Police Station and filed a complaint.

Criminal investigators conducted inquiries and identified and apprehended the accused, who was referred to the Public Prosecution on charges of fraud and embezzlement. During questioning, the officer admitted receiving KD 9,000, but denied deliberately defrauding the citizen. He maintained that he had genuinely intended to establish the business partnership, but the project incurred losses and he was therefore unable to return the money.

The accused also described the complainant as having been “hasty” in making the investment decision, insisting that their relationship was based on a business partnership and not fraud. The case has been referred to the Public Prosecution for further legal action.