Journalist refuses to pay bail, remains in custody

A Kuwaiti journalist held on charges of libel and slander has refused for the second time to pay a KD1,000 ($3,500) bail to be released, his lawyer said.

Mohammad Abdul Qader Al Jassem has declined all pleas by his relatives and friends to pay the bail and go home and remained in the custody of the security officers, Humood Al Hajri, his lawyer, said.

Al Jassem was arrested on Sunday apparently as the result of criticisms he allegedly made about government policies at a private gathering near Kuwait City on October 18. He was summoned by the public prosecutor but denied all the charges and refused to answer questions. He was subsequently sent to the Criminal Investigations Department where he was told that there was a detention order against him and a KD 1,000 bail.

Al Jassem said that he would not pay, prompting his detention.

"My client is a well known figure with a well known address. We insist that the public prosecutor release him immediately," the lawyer said.

MP Mislim Al Barak also called for Al Jassem's release, saying that he is "famous" and "can defend his case."

According to Kuwaiti lawyers, libel and slander are criminal offenses in Kuwait based on articles 209 and 210 of the country's criminal code, with a maximum prison sentence of two years.