MPs hail judgment in graft case

The sentencing in absentia of a member of the ruling family to 15 years in jail for embezzlement of public funds has re-established the country's faith in democracy, justice and the rule of law, a leading anti-corruption parliamentarian said.

MP Nasser Al Sane, chief of the anti-corruption committee in parliament who is also the vice-chairman of Global Organisation of Parliamentarians against Corruption (GOPAC), told Gulf News, "It has been a long journey, but the result is good because it shows that the country still exercises the rule of law and most of us are satisfied that justice has been done." Al Sane who was part of a parliamentary committee that investigated the massive embezzlement at the Kuwait Investment Office (KIO) in London 12 years ago said, "The sentenced former executives had a number of cases brought against them in the United Kingdom and the Kuwaiti government requested a freeze on their collective assets valued at around $500 million (around Dh1,825 million). We still don't have an extradition treaty with the UK but we are working on it."

On Sunday, the country's criminal court sentenced Fouad Khalid Jaffar and Fahad Al Sabah to 30 years and 15 years, respectively, and acquitted Khalid Al Sabah. This is the first time that a member of the ruling family has been convicted for graft, but it is not the first time that a member of the ruling family has gone to jail.

A former minister, who spoke to Gulf News on condition of anonymity, said there have been members of the ruling family who were taken to court in the aftermath of the Souk Al Manakh (Stock Exchange) crash in the 1980s when their cheques bounced and at least one of them did a brief stint in prison and was released only after he paid his dues.

"The greatest thing about Kuwait," the former minister said, "is that ordinary Kuwaitis can go to court to sue the government, a member of the ruling family or an official. Even the head of state has been taken to court in commercial disputes and has lost. It is also the only country in the Arab world that makes it possible because it is enshrined in the law."

"It is important that we have justice for all regardless and I am happy to see that justice has been done in this case," he added.

Kuwaiti Prime Minister Shaikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah has consistently voiced support for efforts to fight corruption and ensure that government agencies followed the rules. "No one is above the law and none will be excluded," he said in a meeting with state administrative leaders, economic officials and representatives of public utility institutions in October this year

MPs have been openly confronting Cabinet ministers on corruption related to public properties and public funds and have strongly criticised the government for taking no action.

In May this year, Kuwaiti lawmakers unanimously approved the stiffening of anti-graft laws allowing judicial authorities to accelerate the trials of officials involved in graft.

The amendment sponsored by the government abolished the 10-year time period after which graft cases would be automatically dropped.