Kuwait’s Public Prosecution has ordered the detention of an officer of the Ministry of Interior for 21 days, while referring him to the central prison, an informed source said.
The source said that the officer breached his duty by favoring his cousin who is allegedly involved in the illegitimate business of residency visa trading and human trafficking. “The man used the officer to intimidate a number of expat workers under his sponsorship when they claimed their rights,” the source said.
The source said the officer and the “residency visa trader” are in custody pending further investigation. The former became the second officer to be remanded in custody, as the former was accused of human trafficking. Prosecutors are investigating cases of human trafficking and residency around the clock, and they have completed a number of files of this case, in preparation for referring them to the criminal courts as soon as the courts are reinstated after the total curfew is lifted.
Expat workers are at heightened risk of exploitation and abuse in the workplace, due to deceptive recruitment practices.