KUWAIT CITY, Jan 15: The Civil and Commercial Division of the Court of First Instance has ruled that a former minister, undersecretary, and assistant undersecretary must jointly compensate the Ministry of Health with $88 million for damages related to the “Aetna America” contract, reports Al- Seyassah daily. The Ministry of Health had sought a collective compensation of $88.5 million (or its equivalent in Kuwaiti dinars) from the defendants, citing financial and reputational harm caused to the ministry and public funds.
Additionally, the ministry requested a temporary civil compensation of 5,001 Kuwaiti dinars for undetermined damages, lost opportunities, and an order for the defendants to cover court expenses and attorney fees.
The case centered on an unauthorized 2.5% addition to the agreed-upon commission in the contract signed on January 4, 2015. This adjustment was made without the knowledge or approval of state regulatory authorities, resulting in financial harm to the Ministry of Health. The ruling highlights the court’s commitment to holding officials accountable for decisions that undermine public funds and breach regulatory compliance.