State Security Court of Appeal issues multiple verdicts in cases of insulting the emirate, joining a banned organization, and money laundering
Abdul Karim Ahmad
The State Security Department at the Court of Appeal, presided over by Judge Abdullah Al-Saifan and comprising Judges Mohamed Jafar and Saud Al-Mutairi, issued several rulings in cases involving challenges to the rights of His Highness the Amir, money laundering, and affiliation with the terrorist organization “Daesh” (ISIS).
In the first case, the court upheld a three-year prison sentence for a social media user accused of publicly challenging the rights of His Highness the Amir, insulting judicial officials, and undermining their integrity and impartiality. The court, however, acquitted him of the charge of insulting the Arab Republic of Egypt.
In a second case, the court upheld a 10-year prison sentence for a Kuwaiti national who joined “Daesh,” promoted its terrorist and takfiri ideology through social media platforms, received training on manufacturing explosives via the “Telegram” application, and attempted to procure an explosive belt with the intent to carry out a terrorist attack against a specific community segment in Kuwait. He was also charged with publicly challenging the rights of His Highness the Amir and insulting the Amir’s person.
According to the case file, investigations by the State Security Agency revealed that the defendant pledged allegiance to “Daesh” leaders and received instructions to carry out terrorist operations against a community segment. However, he was unable to execute them after his arrest. During interrogation, he admitted to embracing terrorist ideology, supporting bombing operations, and targeting places of worship.
The court also upheld 10-year prison sentences for 21 defendants of various nationalities, imposing fines totaling 202 million dinars—equivalent to twice the amount of the illicit funds involved—and fined the companies linked to the case 101 million dinars. This ruling pertained to a money laundering case involving 17 commercial companies and the forgery of banking documents.
The defendants were referred to trial after the Public Prosecution charged them with forming a terrorist group, laundering more than 101 million dinars derived from crimes harming the national interests of the country, and forging banking documents. They were also accused of establishing shell companies to collect funds (expatriate salaries) and transfer them to Syria, conducting banking activities without a license, and laundering illicit proceeds through goods imported from China.
In another case, the court upheld 10-year prison sentences for a Kuwaiti national and two Egyptian nationals, imposing fines totaling 199.588 million dinars on the individuals and 99 million dinars on the commercial entities involved. The court also permanently banned them from engaging in commercial activities. It acquitted another Kuwaiti national and two other Egyptian nationals.
This case involved unlicensed banking activities through the trading of foreign currency derived from expatriate salaries in Kuwait and transferring it to others in Egypt. The funds were deposited into company accounts as legitimate revenues and profits, an act the prosecution alleged harmed the national interests of the country.
