Manama: Businessmen guilty of selling rotten and expired foodstuff in Kuwait are likely to have their licenses revoked, sentenced to up to ten years in jail and pay KD 50,000 fines, the general director of Kuwait municipality has said.

Ahmad Al Subaih said that the heftier prison sentences, amended from five to ten years and the heavier fines, changed from KD 1,000 to KD 50,000, were part of a drive to combat corruption.

He said that 70 percent of the people booked for their role in trading in rotten food have been referred to the Commercial Persecution amid expectations that they would face the maximum penalties, Kuwaiti daily Al Watan reported on Monday.

"We are keen on applying the law against those who have violated the rules and regulations pertinent to food," Al Subaih said. "There are no niceties and courteousness here. The whole affair is dealt with in the utmost level of transparency. The food dossier is essential and there is no room to maneuvre because it directly touches the issue of food security in the country. As a result, the municipality is keen to track all those who dealt with and traded in rotten food," he said.

The municipality inspection teams have been actively working to apprehend those who are engaged in the illegal trade, he said.

Under a careful division aiming to achieve better results, some teams have been assigned to deal with restaurants, while others are assigned to deal with warehouses and storages. Another team is assigned to check shopping malls.

"We are thoroughly transparent in terms of food safety and have been keen to showcases our activities in the media so that both citizens and expatriates feel extremely comfortable and reassured by the endeavours and works of the inspection teams," he said.

"The municipality had changed the rules and regulations regarding food safety violations and is now implementing stricter measures to ensure a zero tolerance for irregularities."

Al Subaih denied claims that corruption was rife in certain departments as rumours.

"They are baseless allegations with no foundation. While we do accept complaints from the public against certain departments and individuals working in the municipality, it is equally important that such accusations are firstly verified prior to any official charges. There are people who were prosecuted after they are formally charged with corruption."

Plans to curb potential corruption include rotating the department heads within the municipality on a regular basis, he said.

"At the same time, I am personally keen on an end through proper attitudes to rumours and talk about nepotism and favoritism in the municipality."