Court sentences two MPs, three former Amiri Diwan advisors in $180 Million public funds mismanagement case

The Misdemeanor Court has sentenced five defendants — two Members of (dissolved) Parliament and three former advisors at the Amiri Diwan — to three years in prison with hard labor. Each was also fined 10,000 Kuwaiti dinars and dismissed from their positions for negligence, abuse of authority, withholding information, and inflicting damage on public funds.

According to the Public Prosecution, the defendants, in their roles as public officials, were involved in a high-profile case linked to mismanagement in the equipment and furnishing of aircraft for the Amiri fleet, reports Al-Qabas daily.

The first defendant served as the Undersecretary of the Amiri Diwan for Financial and Administrative Affairs, Chair of the Amiri Fleet Aircraft Affairs Committee, and head of the Higher Committee overseeing the government aircraft furnishing project.

The second was the Assistant Undersecretary for Financial and Administrative Affairs at the Diwan. The remaining three defendants were advisors hired under expert contracts, and members of committees following up on a contract with an American company.

Investigations revealed that the defendants failed to carry out their duties, misused their authority both inside and outside Kuwait, and withheld critical information from Kuwait Airways, which was responsible for supervising the aircraft equipment contract.

Their actions—marked by gross negligence and the concealment of key data—prevented Kuwait Airways from fulfilling its oversight responsibilities and directly led to financial losses totaling $180 million.