KUWAIT CITY, March 27: The Public Prosecution has ordered the detention of a Kuwaiti citizen and five expatriates following extensive investigations into their involvement in serious crimes that have shocked the public. The charges include forgery of official documents, bribery of a public employee, embezzlement of state funds, money laundering, and other major offenses that have significantly harmed the country's national interests.

In a statement, the Public Prosecution explained that these decisive measures were taken in response to recent social media reports regarding the involvement of a specialized employee at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The suspect, who held the position of supervisor for the special draws of the Ya Hala Kuwait Shopping Festival, allegedly exploited his role to commit systematic fraud in the weekly prize draws organized by the festival’s sponsoring company. The event is held under the supervision of all relevant state authorities.

Investigations revealed that the accused collaborated with several other suspects, some of whom fled the country immediately after their involvement was exposed.

Swift Action and International Arrest Warrants

In an exceptional and rapid response, the Public Prosecutor instructed the formation of an integrated investigation team, which began working on the case from the moment it was uncovered, in close coordination with the Ministry of Interior. The Public Prosecution issued multiple arrest and search warrants for six suspects, along with three international arrest warrants for others who had escaped Kuwait. Their names have been added to international wanted lists for prosecution and extradition back to Kuwait to complete investigations.

Seizure of Evidence and Confessions

During searches of the suspects’ residences and vehicles, authorities recovered large quantities of valuables, including gold bracelets, necklaces, luxury watches, pens, and cash suspected to be linked to the crimes. Additionally, documents, laptops, and mobile phones containing conclusive evidence of fraud and forgery related to the Ya Hala Shopping Festival draws—as well as previous draws associated with other companies—were seized.

When confronted with the evidence, the defendants provided detailed confessions, admitting to their criminal methods, including manipulation, forgery, and bribery, all of which were carried out in prior coordination with one another.

Freezing Assets and Digital Forensics

To secure all evidence, the Public Prosecution ordered the freezing of the defendants’ funds in local and international banks, requested their account details and transaction records, and sought financial statements from exchange companies regarding their transactions. The seized electronic devices were sent to the General Department of Criminal Evidence’s Cybercrime Division for forensic analysis, data extraction, and comprehensive reporting.

Ongoing Investigations and Wider Implications

The Public Prosecution emphasized that investigations are proceeding swiftly, with specialized employees from various government agencies being questioned to uncover all aspects of the case. Additional inquiries have been initiated based on the defendants’ confessions, which may lead to new leads and expand the scope of the investigation to include other potential suspects.

The Prosecution stated that this high-profile case has exposed a sophisticated criminal network that sought to exploit systemic vulnerabilities for illicit financial gain at the expense of state funds and national economic interests. It reaffirmed its commitment to pursuing the case with the utmost rigor to ensure justice is served and all involved parties are held accountable.