State Security Appeals Court issues mixed verdicts
. . . overturns acquittal in false news case; Hands three-year jail term in Hezbollah promotion case; Upholds acquittals, suspends penalties
The State Security Court of Appeals on Thursday, as part of its review of a number of cases involving national security-related offenses, issued a series of verdicts in separate state security cases involving allegations of spreading false news, supporting banned groups, and inciting sectarian discord, overturning one acquittal while upholding several other lower court judgments.
The court overturned the acquittal of a Kuwaiti citizen charged with broadcasting false news. However, it decided to refrain from imposing a sentence, ordering the defendant’s release on a bail of 3,000 dinars.
In another case, the court upheld a lower court’s decision not to impose a penalty on a citizen accused of expressing support and sympathy for Hezbollah.
The appeals court also affirmed the acquittal of a citizen charged with publishing false information regarding drug prices. It further upheld rulings exempting other defendants from punishment in cases related to expressing sympathy for Iran and inciting sedition through social media.
Separately, the court acquitted one person accused of spreading false news through the social media platforms X and TikTok, while another was cleared of charges alleging harm to the operational readiness and war preparedness of Kuwait’s armed forces.
In a separate verdict, the court sentenced a citizen to three years in prison after convicting the accused of promoting Hezbollah and the Houthi movement and inciting sectarian strife.
The rulings were issued by the State Security Court of Appeals as part of its review of a number of cases involving national security-related offenses.
