KUWAIT CITY, May 10: The Court of Ministers has dismissed the foreign remittance case filed against former Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah due to lack of incriminating evidence.
According to the Special Investigation Committee in the court, the lawsuit presented by the plaintiff’s lawyer, Attorney Anwar Al-Qazie, has no proof that the ex-premier embezzled public funds, while the court affirmed the foreign remittances are part of the functions of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

A reliable source revealed the committee had earlier summoned the lawyer to hear his side of the story. The panel also discussed the case with MP Musallam Al-Barrak who raised the issue and MP Faisal Al-Mislem – head of the parliamentary committee tasked to probe into the alleged embezzlement of public money. Sheikh Nasser is said to have denied all the charges when he met the committee.
In a related development, the parliamentary committee probing into the questionable money transfers met Thursday with former Minister of Planning and Development Abdulwahab Al-Haroun and Kuwaiti General Consul in Dubai Tareq Al-Mohammed to discuss the case. Assistant Undersecretary at the Prime Minister Diwan and incumbent Financial Undersecretary Khalid Abdul-Salam Al-Banai was also invited but he did not attend the meeting due to prior commitments.

Meanwhile, MP Obaid Al-Wasmi revealed he has finalized all the issues he intends to include in his interpellation motion against First Deputy Premier and Minister of Interior Sheikh Ahmed Al-Humoud and he will show the request to the Majority Bloc before submitting it to the Parliament Office.

Earlier this week, Al-Wasmi submitted a grilling request against Finance Minister Mustafa Al-Shamali shortly before his colleagues Musallam Al-Barrak, Khalid Al-Tahous and Abdulrahman Al-Anjari took a similar step.

Suspended
Controversial MP Mohammed Al-Juwaihel arrived at the National Assembly allegedly “drunk” on Thursday and caused uproar by “spitting at and insulting” MP Hamad Al-Matar. Al-Juwaihel was subsequently suspended from entering the parliament or any committee meeting for two weeks, with calls to permanently expel the MP from the National Assembly.
Suggestions were also made to create a parliament ethics committee, to subject Al-Juwaihel to medical and blood tests before entering the parliament and to arrest him for “flagrantly committing a crime “.
Out of a 49 MP quorum, 48 lawmakers voted for the suspension while Al-Matar abstained from the vote. The Legal and Legislative Committee was also assigned to study the proposals and prepare a report on the suitable procedures that could be taken against the “troublesome” lawmaker.

Thursday’s session was disrupted during its second deliberation on ‘the small and medium-sized businesses fund’ bill when Al-Matar was seen attempting to attack Al-Juwaihel. He was held back and calmed down by MP Mohammed Al-Saqr and others. Lawmakers said that Al-Juwaihel “was drunk and spat on and verbally insulted Al-Matar.” MP Ali Al-Rashid confirmed that he witnessed Al-Juwaihel spit at and insult Al-Matar.

“He spat at me, the animal, the drunkard. If you don’t take action I will beat him,” shouted Al-Matar, addressing the speaker. Parliament Speaker Ahmed Al-Saadoun temporarily adjourned the session and Al-Juwaihel hurriedly left Abdullah Al-Salam Hall.

Following the session, Al-Matar filed a lawsuit against Al-Juwaihel at Al-Salhiya Police Station and requested the MPs who witnessed the incident to give their testimony. In turn, Al-Juwaihel filed a suit against MP Musallam Al-Barrak’s secretary Abbas Al-Shaabi, alleging that he beat him while he left the parliament. Al-Shaabi reportedly confirmed he hit Al-Juwaihel and also went to record a complaint against him: “I didn’t hit him; I hit the 8000 people who voted for him.”

Majority and minority MPs, as well as the present sate ministers, unanimously agreed to implement article 89 of internal regulations on Al-Juwaihel for his violation of article 88 “by insulting Al-Matar in an unnatural state.” Lawmakers praised the respectable character of Al-Matar and severely condemned Al-Juwaihel, calling him “ignorant”, “vile”, “immoral”, “an alcoholic”, and “an animal” who is “unfit to represent the Kuwaiti people.”

They further stated Al-Juwaihel’s agenda is to cause sedition among the people and disrupt the parliament’s work and tarnish its reputation. The majority added that “Al-Juwaihel attends the Assembly drunk and they will not tolerate his behavior anymore”

The condemnation, however, was also directed at Al-Juwaihel’s supporters who majority MPs believe are members and “daughters” of the ruling Al-Sabah family. “Sheikha Rasha Al-Sabah, Sheikha Awatif Al-Sabah and Sheikh Ali Al-Yousef and Faisal Al-Nawaf all back Al-Juwaihel and provide him with information,” boldly claimed MP Musallam Al-Barrak.

Interior Minister, Sheikh Ahmad Al-Humoud Al-Sabah was also accused of requesting Al-Juwaihel to grill him.

In response, Minster of Information Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah Al-Sabah objected to the claims and requested lawmakers to refrain from making accusations against the ruling family and mentioning names without valid proof. “If you have any evidence against any person, including ruling family members, then take it to the prosecution and I will stand with you,” he said.

Sheikh Mohammed Al-Sabah including State Minister for National Assembly Affairs Shuaib Al-Muwaizri further expressed the government’s dismay and refusal of such behavior by Al-Juwaihel.
On their part, minority MPs said they were delighted that internal regulations are finally being implemented. “We all respect and appreciate Al-Matar and do not accept insults against him. Will internal regulations also be applied on majority MPs?” said MP Hussein Al-Qallaf.

Nevertheless, the assembly carried on the second deliberation on the bill pertaining to a national fund to support small to medium sized businesses. The bill was approved by 45 MPs except MP Mohammed Al-Saqr who abstained from the vote.

According to the law, the fund is established in the form of a public authority under the Cabinet and with a capital of KD one billion taken from the state’s reserves or allocated by the state’s budget. Lands for the businesses are also allocated by the government. The law further states that the board of directors is assigned to set the fund’s policies and regulations that abide by Islamic Sharia and Central Bank directives.