Kuwait court upholds death sentence against US citizen
The convict was charged with drug smuggling, trafficking and money laundering
Cairo: Kuwait’s top court has confirmed the death sentence against a US citizen convicted of smuggling and trafficking in drugs, a newspaper reported today.
The convict, a US army worker, was arrested in August 2018 when hashish and cocaine were found in his house. Police also found in his residence gold alloys, three Rolex wristwatches, a sum of 270,000 Kuwaiti dinars and 49,000 Philippine pesos, as well as scales for weighing drugs, Al Jarida newspaper added.
He reportedly admitted to having bought the Rolexes and alloys from money he made from dealing in drugs that he had illegally brought from the US.
The defendant was charged with drug smuggling and trafficking, and money laundering of 300,000 dinars. He denied the accusations at the Criminal Court, which relied on his earlier confessions and material evidence and sentenced him to death, the paper said.
The ruling was later upheld by the appeals court. According to the Kuwaiti law, death sentences must be approved by the emir to take effect.