WhatsApp Messages Raised Suspicion, But All Defendants Acquitted in Electricity Bribery Case

KUWAIT CITY: The Criminal Court, chaired by Counselor Al-Dhuwaihi Mubarak Al-Dhuwaihi, has acquitted all defendants in a case involving allegations of bribery, salaries, cars and mobile phones allegedly provided to employees at the Ministry of Electricity in connection with two electricity meter contracts.

The court, whose panel also included judges Badr Al-Shihab and Ibrahim Khuraibit, ruled that the evidence was insufficient to establish the charges against the defendants.

According to the key grounds outlined in the acquittal ruling, WhatsApp messages referring to a salary, a gift and the amendment of a report had raised suspicion. However, the court found that the evidence, when considered as a whole, did not prove that the alleged benefits were provided in exchange for overlooking the recording of violations committed by the company.

The court stressed that mere suspicion is not sufficient to shift the burden of proving criminal charges onto the accused, and that the prosecution must establish the alleged offences with adequate evidence.

The case concerned allegations involving benefits, including salaries, vehicles and mobile phones, allegedly linked to employees involved in contracts concerning electricity meters.