Appeals Court cancels Fajr Al-Saeed’s jail term
. . . orders to pay 1,000 dinars bail for good behavior
The Court of Appeal has overturned the verdict of a lower court and abstained from issuing a verdict against journalist Fajr Al-Saeed; but ordered her to pay 1,000 dinars bail as guarantee for good behavior.
Al-Saeed had earlier been sentenced by the Criminal Court to three years in prison with hard labor. The charges included spreading false news and misusing telecommunications means, although she was acquitted of several other accusations.
The Public Prosecution had referred Al-Saeed to the Central Prison after accusing her of broadcasting misinformation, misusing a phone, promoting normalization with Israel, and harming Kuwait’s national interests.
Her defense lawyer, Dr. Faisal Ayal Al-Enezi, argued that the legal text used by the Prosecution did not apply to her case, maintaining that her actions did not constitute a crime punishable under Kuwaiti law.
The appellate court ultimately accepted the defense’s arguments and ruled to drop the prison sentence, instead opting for a conditional release based on a monetary bond and good conduct.
The case had stirred public debate due to the nature of the charges, which touched on sensitive national and political issues.
