Expatriates Arrested for Stealing State Land Sand and Selling It in Al-Wafra
Ministry of Interior arrests Syrians for stealing and selling state land sand in Al-Wafra
Translated by Qiyas from السياسة — Original source
“Interior Ministry”: The two suspects confessed to selling sand to farmers for 15 dinars to gain financial profit
- Sand theft and excavation constitute an assault on public property, classified as a felony rather than a simple theft misdemeanor
The General Directorate of Criminal Investigations, represented by the Ahmadi Governorate Criminal Investigations Department, apprehended two Syrian nationals for stealing sand from state-owned lands in the Al-Wafra desert area, transporting it, and selling it to secure financial gains.
The Ministry of Interior stated in a press release that the suspects were caught while illegally extracting and loading sand using three vehicles, including two transport trucks and an excavator.
It clarified that one of the trucks was rented at a monthly cost of 141 dinars, while the monthly rental fee for the excavator amounted to 193 dinars.
The ministry added that the suspects confessed, during their confrontation with the charges against them, to stealing sand from the site, transporting it, and selling it to farmers in the Al-Wafra area for 15 dinars, thereby profiting personally from the proceeds.
The ministry emphasized that sand and natural resources are national wealth owned by the state, and that their theft, excavation, and unauthorized sale constitute an assault on public property and state assets.
It stressed that, provided the elements of the crime are established, these acts are classified as the felony of embezzlement of public funds or facilitating such embezzlement, rather than a simple theft misdemeanor, in accordance with the provisions of Law No. 1 of 1993 concerning the protection of public funds and the Kuwaiti Penal Code.
