20/04/2026
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20/04/2026
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KUWAIT CITY, April 20: The Court of Appeals overturned the ruling of the lower court, which abstained from sentencing the defendant in a telephone misuse case and acquitted her, citing a lack of elements constituting the crime of threatening. The Public Prosecution charged the defendant with sending WhatsApp messages to the victim, containing statements that the latter considered threatening, in addition to making a telephone call with the same content. During the appeal proceedings, the lawyer for the defendant, Attorney Mohammad Jaber Baqer, argued that the elements of the crime of threatening were not met.
He said the messages were neither serious nor threatening, and did not rise to the level of criminal offense stipulated by law. He also pointed out that the case files lacked conclusive evidence of criminal intent. The court accepted the arguments, stating in its reasoning that the statements attributed to the defendant were general and vague and did not include a threat, thus negating the elements of the crime. It added that the presented evidence was insufficient for conviction. It affirmed that the presumption of innocence applies to every person and that any doubt is interpreted in favor of the accused, leading to the annulment of the appealed ruling and the acquittal of the accused.
By Jaber Al-Hamoud
Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff and Agencies
