First Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and acting Minister of Interior Sheikh Talal Khaled Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber makes us raise our heads these days. He set an example for the rest of our sheikhs -- both young and old.

Sheikh Talal Al-Khaled excelled in his decisions over the past few days, particularly in terms of leaving his office and using an iron fist in tracking down those who violated laws as manifested in the recent action of policemen and their current leaders -- may God multiply their like. They are headed by Undersecretary Badr Al-Barjas, from whom we have seen nothing but reform. He uses an iron hand in dealing with the outlaws. How many outlaws are on the streets and prisons; as well as the land, sea and air borders of the country?

Sheikh Talal Al-Khaled started his public work, serving this country from scratch. I met him when I occupied the Minister of Oil seat in the early 1990s.  I think he occupied an active position in one of the oil companies -- Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) -- at the time. He then took over other positions in the oil sector that I did not follow, until he assumed the presidency of Kuwait Oil Tankers Company. This company has been notorious since the days of the so-called ‘tankers theft’ crime.  I had the honor to refer the case to the Public Prosecution as per the request of its former president -- Abdullah Yusuf Al-Roumi, then judgment was issued without history!!!  It shocked everyone.

I do not know why the ruling was not returned to the Arab judge in order to write his history… Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) filed a case in Britain -- in one of the London courts, which summoned me as a witness. The court convicted the accused and ordered the return of hundreds of millions to KPC.

I remember how the late Abdullah Al-Nibari celebrated the issuance of this ruling. I was the first to be celebrated in that ceremony or symposium.

I also remember a fellow lawyer contacted me -- the lawyer of a senior defendant convicted in the case (he passed away later). This defendant demanded for a pledge from the most senior head of the government at the time, HH the late Prime Minister Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah  -- that he would not be imprisoned if he returned to Kuwait due to his health condition. So, I met Sheikh Saad and presented the matter to him. He said: “You are a lawyer. Is there anything in the Criminal Trials Law allowing this?!”  I responded: “No…” He then said that the answer was ‘no’… I informed the lawyer of the accused about the answer and we closed the matter.

By Ali Ahmed Al-Baghli

Former Minister of Oil