The Criminal Court Acquits a Kuwaiti National of Engaging in Sexual Intercourse with a Minor and Violating Her Honor, Following the Overturning of a Life Sentence
A criminal court acquitted a citizen of charges of having sexual intercourse with a minor girl and violating her honor by force, after overturning a previous in absentia verdict that had sentenced him to life imprisonment.
The ruling came in light of the defense’s objections, which cast doubt on the prosecution’s evidence and insisted on the absence of the essential elements of the crimes attributed to the accused.
The details of the case trace back to statements made by the girl’s father during the investigation. He reported noticing changes in his daughter’s behavior and, upon questioning her, learned that she had been in a relationship with the accused and another individual. She further alleged that the first accused had forced her into sexual intercourse against her will.
During the appeal proceedings, the accused appeared before the court and denied the charges. Lawyer Bashar Al-Nassar represented him, arguing orally in his defense. He emphasized that the material and moral elements of the crime of forced sexual intercourse were not present, and that there was no admissible evidence to support it, in addition to the failure to establish the elements of the crime of violating honor.
Al-Nassar argued that the victim had not provided evidence of any prior relationship or acquaintance with the accused, pointing out her admission that she did not know his phone number and that no conversations or calls between them were found on her phone. The defense considered these factors as indicators confirming that her statements did not align with reality.
The defense also stressed what it described as a fundamental contradiction in the prosecution’s narrative. It noted that during the investigation, the victim stated that the alleged incidents occurred in April inside the accused’s vehicle.
Al-Nassar pointed out that documents submitted by the defense proved that the accused did not own the vehicle mentioned by the victim until September, which was after the time period she specified for the incidents. This raised serious doubts about the validity of the charges and their attribution to his client.
After reviewing the case and hearing the accused’s defense, the court concluded by overturning the previous judgment and once again acquitting the accused, based on the absence of the essential elements of the charges, the doubts raised within the court regarding the evidence, and the lack of admissible evidence sufficient to warrant a conviction.
