New law bans expats with financial crimes from leaving Kuwait

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KUWAIT CITY, June 1: The Public Prosecutor, Counselor Saad Al-Safran, has issued a directive concerning travel restrictions for foreigners convicted in financial cases. The decision, outlines specific scenarios where travel bans will be enforced to ensure compliance with fines issued by the courts.

Based on the Constitution of the State of Kuwait and Administrative Resolution No. (167/2024) regarding the restructuring of the committee tasked with facilitating procedures for collecting criminal fines for the state treasury, the decision addresses concerns regarding the growing number of unpaid fines among foreigners. Failure to collect these fines within the statutory period could result in the state forfeiting its right to recover these financial penalties.

The directive specifies the following cases where travel bans will be imposed:
– Judgments issued in absentia carrying a fine
– Foreigners sentenced in absentia who were not notified.
– Foreigners sentenced in absentia, whether notified or not, who have filed an appeal within the prescribed time limit but have not yet received a decision.
– Foreigners sentenced in absentia who did not file an appeal within the prescribed period (twenty-seven days from the date of the ruling’s announcement).

The opposition rulings issued with a fine penalty, include:
– Foreigners who have filed an appeal against a fine penalty within the prescribed time limit, and the appeal is pending.
– Foreigners who have failed to file an appeal against a fine penalty within the prescribed time limit (twenty days from the date of the ruling’s issuance).

In-person judgments issued imposing a fine penalty, include:
– Foreigners who have filed an appeal against a fine penalty within the prescribed time limit, and the appeal is pending.
– Foreigners who have failed to file an appeal against a fine penalty within the prescribed period (twenty days from the date of the ruling’s issuance).

The directive also outlines that the travel ban on foreigners convicted in the aforementioned cases will be automatically lifted upon full payment of the imposed fine. Additionally, the committee responsible for facilitating procedures for collecting criminal fines for the state treasury has been notified of this decision for implementation.

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