Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Ahmed Al-Mansour has issued decisions to suspend 4 officers of different ranks, “in keeping with the course of investigations conducted by the Public Prosecution, regarding the suspicion of employees who are said to have abused their powers during investigations.”
The Public Relations and Security Media Department of the Ministry of Interior said in a press statement that within the framework of the efforts made by the ministry’s officials to combat ‘unacceptable’ behavior and to reveal the facts of the accusations that surfaced recently, investigations have been ongoing in this regard, reports Al-Rai daily.
The Ministry of the Interior indicated Al-Mansour has decided to look into the procedures adopted by the State Security Agency, by forming a committee, whose main tasks will be to review and develop policies and work rules for the agency in accordance with the best international human rights practices.
It was decided that one of the committee’s tasks would be to ensure conformity with the policies currently in force with the applicable laws and international treaties signed by the State of Kuwait, before introducing an integrated procedural guide on the work policies of the State Security (SS) apparatus in line with best international practices that guarantee human rights and preserve the dignity of individuals as well as write down policies to ensure impartiality and professionalism in the functions of the agency.
The committee is also responsible for protecting the privacy of members of society within the framework of the applicable laws, reviewing detention procedures and issuing recommendations to improve the work of the agency, in addition to reviewing the recent verdicts that have been issued concerning the work of the agency and working to study the notes contained therein on the rules regulating the work of the agency, and submitting recommendations to address them, in addition to preparing the code of functional conduct to regulate the functioning and work of the agency’s personnel.
In its statement, the ministry confirmed that the Interior Ministry officials are moving forward towards a comprehensive rearrangement that ensures the desired upgrading of the ministry, in accordance with the best international practices.
The resolution stipulated:
Article (1)
A committee is formed to review and develop work policies and rules in the State Security Service headed by retired Lieutenant-General Abdullah Abdul Rahman Al-Faris. The following are the member:
1 – Retd Major General Dr. Abdul Wahab Ali Al-Roumi – Vice President
2 – Retd Lt Gen Abdullah Abdulwahab Al-Asfoor – member
3 – Major General, Nasser Nasser Bouresli – Member
4 – Retired Major General,Walid Ahmed Al-Mansour – Member
5- Public Prosecutor, Nayef Ayed Al-Otaibi – Member
6 – Dean, retired jurist, Dr. Moaz Suleiman Al Mulla – Member
7 – Colonel Jurist, Ahmed Saleh Al-Habil – Member
8 – Colonel Abdulaziz Salah Al-Mutawa – Member
9 – Colonel Youssef Ahmed Muhammad Al-Rifai – Member
10 – Major Jurist Abdelwahab Saeed Al-Ajeel – Member and Reporter of the Committee
Article (2)
The committee stipulated in Article (1) of this Resolution shall have the following competences:
1 – Ensuring the conformity of the policies currently in force with the international laws and treaties signed by the State of Kuwait.
2 – Preparing an integrated procedural guide on work policies in the State Security agency in line with best international practices that guarantee human rights and preserve the dignity of individuals.
3 – Preparing a code of professional conduct to regulate the functioning and work of the State Security Service personnel.
4 – Preparing the necessary policies to ensure the impartiality and professionalism of the State Security apparatus when carrying out its responsibilities.
5 – Preparing the necessary controls to ensure and protect the privacy of community members within the framework of the applicable laws.
6 – Preparing the necessary mechanisms to set up complaints and audit system that guarantees the protection of the whistleblower from any legal violations.
7 – Reviewing the facts of the leaks and practices attributed to the State Security apparatus and providing the necessary recommendations for developing the apparatus and addressing any existing shortcomings in the apparatus’s work.
8 – Reviewing the automated systems of the State Security apparatus and assessing their suitability and compatibility with international best practices.
9 – Reviewing detention procedures and dealing with detainees and making recommendations to improve the work of the state security apparatus, in accordance with international best practices.
10 – Reviewing the recently issued rulings related to the State Security apparatus, evaluating the observations contained therein on the rules regulating the work of the apparatus, and raising a vision for their treatment.
Article (3)
The work of the aforementioned committee begins from the date this decision was issued and the duration is three months provided that it submits a report on the outcome of its work upon its completion.
Article (4)
The committee may seek the assistance of whomever it deems appropriate to carry out its work.
