Citizen arrested for managing fake accounts to spread rumors
The Kuwaiti national was arrested for managing 16 fake social media accounts to spread malicious rumors and insult citizens for payment, and was sentenced to three years in prison on charges of ‘threatening.’
• The suspect was arrested at a shopping mall with two friends after being identified and monitored, with authorities seizing phones used for fake accounts and finding narcotics, psychotropic substances, and alcohol during a residence search.
The Ministry of Interior announced that the Criminal Security Affairs Sector, through the General Department of Criminal Investigation (including the Cybercrime Combating Department and the Hawalli Governorate Investigations Department), arrested a citizen, identified as (S.F.), after receiving confidential information about his role in managing sixteen fake social media accounts. These accounts were used to spread rumors and insult the dignity of several citizens in exchange for payment, according to Arabic daily Al Rai.
In a statement, the ministry said, “Upon receiving the information, specialized security teams began conducting the necessary investigations, which led to identifying the suspect and monitoring his daily movements, place of residence, and means of transportation. After obtaining permission from the Public Prosecution, he was arrested while at a shopping mall, in coordination with the mall’s management. He was accompanied by two friends.”
The ministry added, “When confronted with the investigation findings, he admitted to running several fake accounts used to spread false news, malicious rumors, and insult citizens. A number of mobile phones used to manage those accounts were seized, and a search of his residence resulted in the discovery of an additional phone, as well as a quantity of narcotics, psychotropic substances, and bottles of imported alcohol.”
The ministry noted that “the accused admitted during the investigation to communicating and cooperating with the defendant (N. B), who holds Antigua and Barbuda citizenship and is currently outside the country in Turkey. They were jointly managing fake accounts in exchange for sums of money. Investigations also revealed that the accused had been sentenced to three years in prison, enforceable in case No. (2016/511) Criminal Investigations Department, on charges of ‘threat.’”
In its statement, the ministry revealed the names of sixteen fake accounts found on the suspect’s phone, according to a photo circulated by the ministry that included the account names.
