Kuwaiti woman held for allegedly insulting municipality inspector

Dubai: A Kuwaiti woman has been detained after allegedly verbally insulting a Kuwait Municipality inspector while he was carrying out his official duties, according to a security source quoted by local media.

The incident was reported to the Interior Ministry’s operations room after the inspector said the woman had directed offensive remarks at him while he was working.

A police patrol was dispatched to the scene and the woman was taken to Al Salhiya Police Station for questioning. The inspector told investigators that several people had witnessed the incident. Police summoned the witnesses, whose statements corroborated his account, according to the source.

The woman was subsequently questioned, but investigators considered her explanation insufficient to justify the alleged remarks and ordered her detention pending referral to the relevant authorities. She was allowed to contact her family.

Under Kuwait's Penal Code, verbally insulting or making insulting gestures towards a public official while they are performing their duties, or because of those duties, can carry a prison sentence of up to three months, a fine of between KD100 and KD300, or either penalty.

More severe penalties apply to insults or assaults involving certain officials, including judges, prosecutors, police officers and members of the armed forces or National Guard.

The case remains subject to investigation and no court ruling has been issued.