KUWAIT CITY, Jan 16: Ministry of Commerce and Industry announced that it is investigating a video clip that showed a bag of rice with less weight, reports Al-Rai daily. In a press statement, the ministry said, “After studying the video that went viral on social media, and showed a bag of rice that was underweight, necessary communication has been made with the concerned department for verification and required action. If it is proven that the owner of the video was given a bag of rice of lesser weight than what was written on it, necessary legal action will be taken.” It explained that rice is dispensed to the citizens in the ration branches on a kilogram basis and not on sack basis.

The quantity of rice may have been unloaded from the sacks depending on the number of individuals registered in the ration card of the owner of the sack that was highlighted in the anonymous video.

The ministry affirmed that its control extends from the entry of food supplies to the stores of the Kuwait Catering Company and until the branches deliver the supplies to the owner of the card. After this, the responsibility for oversight is transferred to the citizens. It called on the holders of ration cards to verify the weight of the packs before exiting the catering branch.

The ministry stressed the continuous follow-up of the ration branches by the inspection teams of the ministry.

It urged the owner of the anonymous video to submit a complaint to the ministry through its official channels so that necessary action can be taken. The ministry also called on citizens to make sure they get supplies of proper weight dispensed to them by matching the bill with the scale before leaving the supply branches. It appealed to citizens not to hesitate to call the hotline No. 135 or visit the nearest commercial control center in the governorates in case they want to submit a formal complaint