According to local media reports, a former Kuwaiti government minister has been sentenced to four years in prison and fined KD400,000 ($1.3 million) on corruption charges.
The court, which specializes in cases involving government officials, also ruled that the ex-minister be prohibited from holding any public office. Kuwaiti newspaper Al Qabas identified the official as Mubarak Al Harees, a former minister of services and parliamentary affairs.
Al Harees, 60, was accused of influence peddling during his tenure, specifically for obtaining a decision to change the designation of two industrial land plots from a craft activity to a commercial service in exchange for KD50,000. The report added that he later sold the plots for KD780,000, benefiting both himself and the company involved, as the land’s value increased due to the use change. He also faced charges of illicit gains and forgery.
In recent years, Kuwait has intensified its efforts to combat corruption, handing down various prison sentences in high-profile cases. Last December, the country’s top appeals court sentenced seven expatriates working in foreign exchange offices to 10 years in prison each for money laundering.
The Court of Cassation also ordered the seven individuals and three implicated forex firms to pay a combined fine of KD60 million.
The case was described as the largest money laundering operation in Kuwait’s foreign exchange sector.
In November of last year, a Kuwaiti court sentenced another former government minister to seven years in prison for profiteering through a business contract, misusing public funds, and influence peddling. This tribunal, known as the Court of Ministers, also issued similar sentences to a former ministerial undersecretary and an ex-head of the Federation of Cooperative Societies, all involved in awarding a government contract without proper legal procedures for personal gain.
Kuwaiti newspaper Al Rai identified the ex-minister as Mubarak Alarou, who served as the minister of social affairs from December 2021 to August 2022. Alarou was arrested last May upon his arrival at Kuwait International Airport.
