KUWAIT CITY, April 30: Around 18 orders were signed by an agent of the former Prime Minister to transfer millions of Kuwaiti dinars from public funds to the ex-PM’s overseas personal and private account, says opposition MP Musallam Al-Barrak.

In a statement to the press on Monday, Al-Barrak disclosed he testified at the ‘foreign transfers’ probing committee of the Ministerial Court Sunday evening “and submitted another group of documents that unequivocally prove transfers have been made from public funds to the personal and private account of the former Prime Minister as per his instructions.”

Al-Barrak further disclosed that he presented the court’s probing committee “with information on around 18 transfer orders signed by one of the former PM’s agents.”

“The orders requested the transfer of millions of dinars overseas and delivered to specific individuals. The orders stated the phrase ‘record the amount to the personal and private account’ of the former Prime Minister in various formats,” the MP said.

Al-Barrak added that “what raises suspicion is that the orders were written by hand; therefore they cannot be denied or evaded.” Al-Barrak added that “it is strange that all the orders do not carry any references to the sender, apart from the transfer telegrams sent from the Foreign Ministry.”

Al-Barrak reiterated that the facts negate Sheikh Nasser Al-Sabah’s claims that his orders were done to cover the donations of the State of Kuwait abroad and cover its’ national and Arab obligations. He stated that the former PM’s statements contradict the documents.

“The facts also deny that the transfers are based on decrees from the Amiri Diwan or Cabinet decisions,” he added, “The suspect transfers that are being investigated are not connected with the claims the former minister used in his defense in front the probing committee. Also, the transfers were not taken from the secret expenses but from the Foreign Ministry’s funds.”

Al-Barrak stated “the case must be prosecuted by the Ministerial Court and Sheikh Nasser Al-Sabah summoned as a suspect so that the law is applied on him, without regard to his name or former position, as like any other citizen.”

“The law does not distinguish between rich and poor or between Sheikh and common citizen,” he said. Al-Barrak assured that he will not relent on the ‘foreign transfers’ case and that he will wait to face Sheikh Nasser Al-Sabah opposite the probing committee with the charges.

The parliament had formed two probing panels to investigate alleged corruption by former MP Sheikh Nasser Al-Sabah. According to opposition MPs, who are part of the current parliament’s majority, around KD 77 million were transferred abroad by Sheikh Nasser. The opposition lawmakers are also charging that millions were deposited as bribes into the accounts of 12 former MPs, including a current MP.

Furthermore, MP Musallam Al-Barrak disclosed that the probing committee on the illegal deposits will meet on Wednesday and invited the heads of the local banks and units, that reportedly laundered the amount.
He said there are strong indications that the case pertains to political bribery, therefore there are entities attempting to disrupt the committee’s work. Al-Barrak lamented that one of the consultants of a government entity “who is known for malice” is advising that the deposits case should be summed up into a case of scam and fraud against the MPs.

“So that the case appears to be about funds given to MPs as a form of aid to fictitious citizens, but the MPs took the money into their accounts instead,” he stated, warning of dire consequences if the advice is considered.

On another note, Al-Barrak said that the Finance Minister Mustafa Al-Shammali’s claims of cooperation with the investigative committees are false. He lamented that the finance ministry entities are uncooperative and refuse to present the requested documents.

“The deposits and transfers were not committed until the era of Mustafa Al-Shammali and it is unfortunate that he is still responsible for the state’s treasury,” he stated.

Al-Barrak further disclosed that the Public Funds Protection Committee on Monday continued its investigations into the Shell oil company case and suspicion of diesel smuggling.

A joint committee, consisting of members from the Financial and Legislative panels, discussed Monday the proposed financial assistance for Kuwaiti private sector employees and the leadership posts in public institutions with the representatives of the Civil Service Commission (CSC) and Manpower and Government Restructuring Program (MGRP).

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Committee Chairman MP Waleed Al-Tabtabaei disclosed they reached an agreement to limit the tenure of undersecretaries to eight years, but postponed deliberations on the tenure of assistant undersecretaries until next week due to differences on the number of years. He said the government insisted on granting 12-year tenure to assistant undersecretaries, while the committee suggested eight years. He confirmed the panel will resolve the issue next week.
Al-Tabtabaei added the committee also asked the CSC to increase the social allowances for Kuwaitis employed in the private sector. He said the committee recommended an allowance of KD300 for those with university certificates and a slightly lower amount for undergraduates. He affirmed the MGRP will submit its plan to encourage citizens to work in the private sector and establish a fund for insurance against unemployment to the committee next week.
On the leadership posts in public institutions, Al-Tabtabaei said a committee has been formed to review applications for vacant leadership posts in the public sector. He explained the committee will submit names of shortlisted applicants to the Cabinet for approval.
Al-Tabtabaei added the committee also postponed discussions on the dismissal of Kuwaiti workers from some private companies. He revealed the committee will tackle the issue in its next meeting.
Meanwhile, MP Shaya Al-Shaya has called on the government to address the problems of Kuwaitis, who got laid off from their jobs in the private sector, including the local banks. He claimed several Kuwaiti bank employees have been forced to resign and replaced with expatriates even if certain government officials have promised the Bank Workers Syndicate that they will protect these employees.
Al-Shaya proposed the formation of a committee, headed by the Central Bank of Kuwait governor, to look into the complaints of Kuwaiti bank employees who were either terminated or forced to resign.  
In another development, Human Rights Committee Chairman MP Adel Al-Damkhi said the names of some Kuwaiti martyrs have not been registered officially despite the issuance of an Amiri decree in this regard. He attributed the delay to the bureaucratic procedures in the Martyrs Bureau. He added the panel looked into the reasons for the absence of files of 367 Kuwaiti and non-Kuwaiti martyrs whose remains have yet to be discovered.
Disclosing the committee also tackled the case of Kuwaiti POW Banon Al-Anazi whose family is now residing in Jordan, Al-Damkhi alleged the children of Al-Anazi are among the beneficiaries of the Amiri Grant but they did not receive any assistance. “We urge the Martyrs Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Kuwaiti Embassy in Jordan to immediately deal with the issue. They must treat these people fairly, especially since they have been deprived of their rights since 2004,” he added.
On Kuwaitis detained in other countries, Al-Damkhi advised the citizens whose relatives are languishing in prisons abroad to submit the names of the inmates for the committee to follow up their cases. He confirmed an official letter requesting permission to visit the Kuwaiti inmates in Guantanamo has been forwarded to the Foreign Affairs Ministry.
Moreover, the Housing Affairs Committee Chairman Dr Ahmad Mutei revealed the committee will soon forward a recommendation to the minister of housing affairs on the issuance of ownership documents to Kuwaiti widows for the houses that they and their children currently occupy.
Al-Mutei said the committee also discussed, in its meeting on Monday, the Parliament’s failure to look into the case of last-born children, who have no right to apply for housing grants as per the current law because they will inherit the houses of their parents. He added the committee deliberated on the possibility of giving the last-born children right to apply for housing grants independently.
On the housing grant applications of newly-naturalized Kuwaitis, Mutei explained the existing law gives these citizens right to apply for housing grant from the date of naturalization. He said the committee intends to have an agreement with the Public Authority for Housing Welfare (PAHW) to specify the waiting period for the approval of housing grant applications. He disclosed the committee suggested a waiting period of 10 years, pointing out that some applications were submitted 30 years ago.
On the corrugated houses, Mutei said the committee asked the PAHW to submit a report on these houses to pave the way for the payment of compensation to the owners or to grant them alternative houses. He added these houses are attached to each other and renovation works in one unit may affect the nearest structure.
Asked about the eviction of some citizens from their houses in Block One, Al-Zhour, Mutei clarified an agreement has been reached with the PAHW to demolish these houses and transform the area into a public garden or recreation center.
Sources close to the government informed the Arab Times on Monday that the Ministry of Commerce is working on an independent provisions entity as like the Kuwait Flour Mill and Bakeries Company to curb monopolization and rise in prices of commodities.
The source added that the provisions will be introduced this year and will include basic commodities such as meat and eggs, so that the local economy is supported.
Furthermore, the source disclosed that the Cabinet plans on fast-tracking the establishment of a government sponsored health insurance company for Kuwaitis. The proposal was submitted by the previous Health Minister and stipulates government-funded insurance for citizens to be used in private hospitals to reduce the burden on public sector hospitals.

Agencies add:
A Kuwaiti opposition MP on Monday questioned what he called a “suspicious” deal to supply China’s Sinopec with 300,000 barrels per day of oil for 10 years.
The deal involves “several legal, administrative and technical violations,” charged MP Mubarak al-Waalan.
In a series of questions to Oil Minister Hani Hussein, the lawmaker claimed the deal, signed in November, was concluded without obtaining the mandatory prior approvals of the government legal and accounting authorities.
The deal was not also authorised by the board of directors of Kuwait Petroleum Corp. (KPC), the emirate’s national oil conglomerate, as required by the law and also involved unjustified financial facilities, the MP alleged.
Waalan, a member of the opposition which has a majority in parliament, demanded a copy of the contract and asked the minister if it involves any loss to Kuwait’s public funds.
He also asked Hussein, who was appointed in February, to explain the financial facilities and guarantees provided to the state-owned Chinese firm as part of the agreement.
KPC and Sinopec are involved in a separate $9-billion joint venture to build a refinery and a petrochemicals complex in China’s southern Guangdong province.
France’s energy giant Total has taken 40 percent of KPC’s share or 20 percent of the venture.