KUWAIT CITY, July 26: The Court of Appeals annulled the verdict of First Instance Court that sentenced a Saudi citizen to life imprisonment and deportation upon completing the term for smuggling and peddling in illicit drugs. The court acquitted the suspect and cleared him of all charges.The Public Prosecution charged the suspect along with another person for smuggling 142kg of drugs from Iraq through Abdali border outlet to sell in Kuwait, indicating they smuggled the contraband into the country before their arrest.Lawyer Mohammad Al-Sulaili in his defense requested annulment of the life imprisonment sentence slammed on his client by the First Instance Court. He maintained that his client did not know there were illicit drugs in the bus. He also argued the arrest and investigation procedures contradicted statements of the prosecution officer.Citizen wins rights: The Administration Circuit of the Court of First Instance presided over by Judge Jassim Al-Rashed cancelled a decision that prevented the chairman of the supreme council of Public Authority for Disabled and the director general of the authority in their capacity to enlist a citizen in the category of people with special needs according to Law No. 8/2010.According to the case file, the citizen sustained a deep wound in his left eye due to a gunshot in 1994. He lost vision in that eye and underwent surgery for putting an artificial cosmetic eye. However, those responsible for rights of people with special needs blocked his name from the category of disabled though he deserved to be added to that list.Lawyer Mohammed Al-Mutairi brought the case to the court for the decision to be annulled.He affirmed that his client has remained protected since the enforcement of Law No. 49/1996 and ministerial decision No. 45/1997 and his name has been listed in all this until when Law No. 8/2010 was introduced.Lawyer Al-Mutairi said his client was referred to the Forensics Department to prove his disability, and a committee of doctors affirmed that his client suffers from a disability that is covered under Law No. 8/2010.The court ruled to list the citizen under the category of people with special needs.Deadline extended: The Registration and Admission Department at the Education and Training Sector in the Ministry of Interior has extended the period for receiving applications from those who wish to enroll at the Non-Commissioned Officers Institute for the First Sergeant Course batch 23 until Aug 3, 2017.In a press statement, the Public Relations and Security Media Department explained the registration process will be done online on www.moi.gov.kw.  It added there will be announcements on print and electronic media platforms including social media for interested parties to explore the conditions and enrollment procedures, as well as obtain information on the documents required by the Registration and Admission Department.The department affirmed all opportunities are available for Kuwaiti youths to join the police force, adding the new First Sergeant batch is an open door for those who fulfill the general and special conditions.By Jaber Al-HumoudAl-Seyassah Staff and Agencies