KUWAIT CITY, Dec 30: The Misdemeanor Court of Appeals upheld the verdict of the Court of First Instance which sentenced a Kuwaiti man to three years in prison for issuing KD 500,000 dud cheque to a concubine as a bogus dowry. The Public Prosecution accused the man of acting on bad intention to dupe the woman with cheque belonging to a local bank, knowing well he did not wish to release the money. He deliberately signed the cheque wrongly and instructed the bank against paying the sum. Plaintiff Attorney Ayed Mahdi Al-Rashidi said the case was clear since all proofs were available to criminalize the action of the defendant. He added the bank account did not have enough deposit to clear the cheque and he instructed the bank not to honor the cheque he deliberately signed. He stressed the defendant personally used his handwriting to append the cheque and other needed information.

Hearing Feb 3: The Court of First Instance has set Feb 3 to resume hearing in a lawsuit filed by former Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah against ex-MP Faisal Al-Mislem related to his blogs regarded by the former as malicious and defamatory. Attorney Ali Al-Asfour stood in for Attorney Emad Al-Seif to represent the plaintiff. Ex-MPs Riyadh Al-Adsani, Faisal Al-Yahya and Abdul-Latef Al-Omairi were also in the court as witnesses for Al-Mislem. Based on the defense counsel’s request, the court limited the cross examination to Al-Adsani and Al-Yahya, and left out Al-Omairi. Al-Adsani affirmed that millions of funds were transferred from the account of Sheikh Nasser and deposited in the bank, while Al-Yahya buttressed the testimony saying the money was transferred to some Kuwaiti embassies abroad.

Decision nullified: The Court of Appeals nullified the administrative decision taken by Kuwait Municipality and the Protection of State Properties Committee on the demolition of a chalet, which interlocked with an adjacent chalet, due to the alleged violations committed by its owner. The court also ordered the Municipality to pay an undisclosed amount. The plaintiff’s counsel, Attorney Osama Al-Sanad, filed the lawsuit on behalf of his client to ensure that the Municipality and the committee suspend the demolition. He said the Municipality has been sending warning letters to chalet owners for demolition and the last of such warnings were issued last week. On the other hand, the Court of First Instance pointed out the authorities have yet to issue any decision as they only sent warnings. It affirmed the officials did not carry out any demolition nor revoke the ownership license, adding that the decision was unacceptable. The lower court’s failure to issue a clear verdict to stop the demolition has prompted the plaintiff to appeal the verdict because he felt his right was not protected.

By Jaber Al-Hamoud Al-Seyassah Staff