KUWAIT CITY, July 8: Minister of Justice and Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs Mohammad Al-Wasmi has announced the drafting of a new law on alternative procedures and penalties, such as community service instead of imprisonment for certain misdemeanor crimes, reports Al- Qabas daily. He explained that these alternative penalties will replace the penalty of imprisonment for less than two months for some misdemeanor cases such as traffic violations, violations of the municipality law, and violation of the printing and publishing law.

The new law is aimed to use the convicts for the benefit of society. Meanwhile, Minister Al-Wasmi revealed that the Public Prosecution is planning to recruit an additional number of public prosecutors to improve the judiciary and hasten the issuance of court rulings. He clarified that the government is highly concerned about simplifying the procedures and facilitating the progress of court cases.

Minister Al-Wasmi affirmed that a number of regulations will be issued including those for online trials of some types of cases. He indicated that it will first be enforced in some courts and if proven successful, it will be applied in the rest of courts that deal with such kinds of lawsuits. In addition, Al-Wasmi highlighted the plan of the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs to build environmentally-friendly mosques with sustainable electricity and water. He revealed that a committee of specialists in construction and design has been tasked to prepare the model to be adopted by the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs for the construction of environmentally- friendly mosques especially in the new residential areas.