6 Raffle draw fraudsters arrested, bank accounts freezed

The Public Prosecution announced via an official statement on the “X” platform that it has ordered the detention of a citizen and five residents following extensive investigations.

The findings revealed their involvement in a series of serious crimes that have sparked public outrage, including forgery of official documents, bribery of a public employee, facilitating the misappropriation of state funds, and money laundering. These offenses, among others, have caused significant harm to national interests, prompting swift legal action against the accused.

The Public Prosecution clarified that these firm actions were taken in response to recent social media reports regarding the involvement of a specialized public employee from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

This public employee, who serves as the supervisor of raffles for the Kuwait Shopping Festival, Ya Hala, has been implicated in the ongoing investigation, further underscoring the seriousness of the case.

Furthermore, the Public Prosecution revealed that investigations uncovered how the employee exploited his position to orchestrate systematic fraud and manipulation in the weekly prize raffles of the Kuwait Shopping Festival, Ya Hala.

These raffles, sponsored by a private company and conducted under the supervision of various state agencies, were allegedly rigged in collaboration with several other defendants. Some of the accused fled the country immediately after their involvement was exposed, further highlighting the gravity of the case.

The Public Prosecution further stated that, in an unprecedented and urgent move, the Attorney General directed the formation of a specialized investigation team to handle the case.

This team commenced its work immediately upon the case’s discovery, working in close coordination with the relevant authorities at the Ministry of Interior to ensure a thorough and swift investigation.

The Public Prosecution stated that it successfully obtained multiple arrest and search warrants for six suspects, along with three international arrest warrants for individuals who had fled the country. Their names have been added to international wanted lists to facilitate their capture and extradition to Kuwait, ensuring that they face legal proceedings as part of the ongoing investigation.

The Public Prosecution further revealed that searches conducted at the suspects’ residences and vehicles led to the seizure of large quantities of valuables, including gold bracelets and necklaces, luxury watches, high-end pens, and significant sums of cash, all suspected to be linked to the crimes.

Additionally, investigators confiscated documents, laptops, and mobile phones containing conclusive evidence of fraud and forgery related to the Kuwait Shopping Festival, Ya Hala, raffles, as well as other past draws involving different companies.

The Public Prosecution stated that, based on the compelling evidence gathered, it initiated interrogations with the defendants, who provided detailed confessions about their criminal methods.

The accused admitted to orchestrating fraud, forgery, and bribery through prior coordination. When confronted with the seized items and other incriminating evidence, the suspects fully acknowledged their involvement, offering precise accounts of how the crimes were carried out.

The Public Prosecution clarified that, to maintain full control over the case evidence, it issued orders to freeze all funds belonging to the defendants held in local and international banks. Additionally, it initiated inquiries into their accounts and financial transfers while directing exchange companies to provide detailed statements of their financial transactions.

The seized computers and mobile phones were sent to the General Department of Criminal Evidence – Computer Crimes Combating Section for thorough examination and data analysis. Experts have been tasked with preparing comprehensive and precise reports on their contents and any potential implications related to the ongoing investigation.

The Public Prosecution stated that it is speedily proceeding with its investigations, summoning specialized employees from various government agencies for questioning to uncover all aspects of the case.

Moreover, the Public Prosecution added that it has also requested further investigations into additional incidents confessed by the defendants during questioning. This move is expected to reveal new leads and broaden the scope of the inquiry, potentially identifying other individuals involved in the case.

The Public Prosecution concluded by emphasizing that this high-profile case, which has sent shockwaves across the country, has uncovered a sophisticated criminal network that sought to exploit legal loopholes for illicit financial gain at the expense of state funds and national economic interests.

As a result, the Public Prosecution remains steadfast in its commitment to conducting thorough and meticulous investigations, ensuring that all those involved are held accountable and brought to justice.

Source: Al Anba