Where did Al-Asami's wealth originate?
Yesterday, I read the statement issued by the Public Prosecution regarding the referral of 71 defendants to the Criminal Court in the case of manipulation of agricultural land holdings. It reminded me of dozens of similar statements and decisions issued during the new era, and suddenly a wave of happiness overwhelmed me. The effort I have expended throughout my life to safeguard my reputation and uphold my word, keeping myself away from any illegitimate greed or actions contrary to the law, has not been in vain. On the contrary, I see it every day in the psychological peace and security that I feel. There is no doubt that some people manipulated their “nationalities,” altered their documents, exploited their positions, and amassed their wealth through illegitimate means. These individuals are today placing their hands, and perhaps their feet, on their hearts, waiting for someone to knock on their door to deliver the referral decisions to the Prosecution.
This deep psychological peace, which I and many others feel, did not come by chance or in vain. Rather, it is the result of distancing oneself from everything that is unethical, inhumane, and illegal, based on an experience that began in 1965 and continues to this day. It was never that difficult.
As a banker, a merchant, a contractor, a board member of a bank and various companies, both within Kuwait and abroad, and as the founder and president of a unique charitable association, I have gone through countless experiences and stories. I have witnessed events characterized by much strangeness and fear, meanness and deprivation, as well as heroism, compassion, and affection. It requires considerable effort to document their details. Among these is a story I have refrained from mentioning in any of my articles for years, despite its strangeness. It is a classic story that illustrates how many people built their enormous fortunes, which could not have been achieved through legitimate means, especially by people like them.
The story of the “Three Knights” revolves around the method by which they successfully laid the first bricks of their vast wealth. The first was a banker, whose job duties involved facilitating lending operations for others, especially if backed by good collateral. The second was an employee in the Ministry of Finance. The third, the “dynamo,” was the mastermind behind the project. He had the least money and reputation, but was the smartest, most active, and most knowledgeable about how to exploit “shoulders” (a colloquialism for taking advantage of others).
The story, or the “infernal plan,” can be summarized as follows: The third party proposed purchasing a specific “investment” plot of land on a well-known street. The second party then committed to paying the down payment for the land purchase. Subsequently, the first two approached the third, the manager, requesting a loan equal to the remaining balance of the land’s price, using the land as collateral for their benefit. All of this was done easily, as banking matters were often conducted in that manner at the time.
After purchasing the land, an agreement was reached for the bank to finance the construction process through another loan. Construction plans and permits were completed in record time through known methods, and construction began immediately. Once the building reached a certain stage, the third party approached the relevant government authority, offering to lease the building to the state. This was done in exchange for a rental amount far exceeding the prevailing market rates.
Due to the building’s location in a known investment/commercial area, the existence of a ready and guaranteed lease contract with a government entity, and the highly lucrative rental amount, the building was sold at a price much higher than the market rate. The realized profit was then distributed among the parties to the agreement.
This process was repeated several times, resulting in their success in building their fortunes, which subsequently became enormous. Then they would come and talk about honor and ethics.
Ahmed Al-Sarraf
