MP Intensifies Investigation Into Embezzlement And Theft Of Public Funds

Sheikh Dr Mohammad Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, the Prime Minister of the new government, has received the first parliamentary questions addressed to its members, who, according to the regulations, will not have to respond until the new ministers in the National Assembly take the constitutional oath on Feb 6. Nine questions were officially referred to the government.

Asked by MP Badr Nashmi about the embezzlement of publicly documented public funds in cooperative societies since the beginning of 2014, the measures taken, and the number of cases filed against expatriates accused of theft and embezzlement, Firas Al-Malik was the acting Minister of Social, Family and Childhood Affairs and Firas Al-Malik. As he stressed the importance of confronting these thefts, which reveal the weakness of the supervisory and financial roles of state agencies, Nashimi cited the repeated theft of cooperative societies by what he called "weak souled expatriates" and their escape with stolen money outside the country. Additionally, he emphasized the need to stop the wastage of public money and to protect shareholders' assets.

The sanctity of public money requires preserving everything in the interest of the nation and its citizens. Allah Almighty has vowed to impose severe punishment for anyone who unlawfully takes public money. Therefore, we must preserve and protect public money. We must pursue those who steal it by taking sound and firm measures, tracking the movement of the looted money outside the country, and recovering it through legal and political means and other means followed internationally.”

He asserted that the country recently witnessed a remarkable increase in the number of embezzlement, theft, and misappropriation of public funds crimes in many institutions, government agencies, and companies. He said the problem has been exacerbated in the absence of deterrence and many of the accused have not been punished despite the multiplicity of regulatory bodies in the country. He requested for detailed report on the crimes of embezzlement and misappropriation of public funds officially documented in cooperative societies since the beginning of 2014 for each cooperative society and each year separately, including the amounts of stolen money, nationality of the accused and those convicted in these crimes, and their job descriptions.

He inquired about the measures taken by cooperative societies that witnessed crimes of embezzlement and theft, whether a report on these crimes was submitted to the Public Prosecution, several cases filed by the boards of directors of cooperative societies against expatriates accused of crimes of theft and embezzlement of shareholders’ funds, and the mechanism followed by the Ministry of Social Affairs to recover the funds stolen from cooperatives. Is it possible for someone who has custody of public money to leave the country without clearing his responsibility before leaving? How much is the total value of the stolen funds? Has any of this money been recovered since 2014 and have investigation committees been formed in cooperative societies?

MP Hamad Al-Matar asked the same minister about the Jaber Bridge North Island Project, while MP Marzouq Al-Ghanim asked HH the Prime Minister about the secret special expenses item that was allocated to His Highness’s Office in the budget of the Secretariat General of the Council of Ministers for the two fiscal years (2022/2023 and 2023/2024). MP Shuaib Shaaban asked Minister of Education Dr Adel Al-Adwani about the specialized committee in charge of the separation of the applied education sector from the training sector in the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training (PAAET). MP Mubarak Al-Hajraf asked Finance Minister Anwar Al-Mudhaf on whether or not the Insurance Corporation granted large loans to some people or companies. MP Fahd bin Jamea to Minister asked Health Minister Ahmed Al- Awadhi to submit copies of the curricula vitae of some officials in his ministry and the mechanism for filling up vacant supervisory positions.

MP Badr Nashmi also referred queries to the Minister of Defense and acting Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahd Al-Yousef about the value of the deficit in the annual budget of the Ministry of Interior since fiscal 2020/2021, the deficit is expected to be recorded in the current fiscal year, plans to rationalize expenditures and delay in promoting graduates of the ninth batch of specialized officers from the rank of captain to the rank of major. MP Shuaib Al-Muwaizri asked Minister of Commerce Hamad Al-Joaan if his ministry could form a transitional committee immediately after the publication of Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry Law number 122/2023 to undertake the work of the Board of Directors until a new board is elected. Meanwhile, the Disabled Affairs Committee on Tuesday met with Minister of Finance and Minister of State for Economic and Investment Affairs Anwar Ali Al-Mudhaf; as well as the representatives of the Public Authority for Disabled Affairs (PADA), Legal Advice and Legislation Department, and Public Institution for Social Security (PIFSS).

In accordance with decree number 229/2023, they discussed the points that prompted the government to return the ratified bill amending Disabled Affairs Law number 8/2010 to the Assembly. Chairman of the committee MP Saud Al-Asfour disclosed that the objective of the meeting is for the two sides to compromise; such that the bill is acceptable for the government while guaranteeing the privileges allocated for the disabled. He said the committee asked the Ministry of Finance and PIFSS to submit a joint report stating their views and vision on the acceptable amendment within a few weeks. He added the committee will then discuss this report and submit its report to the Assembly for voting. It was previously the previous government's decision to return the bill to the Assembly due to the high costs that could exhaust the State's budget; the bill stipulates granting financial privileges to non-Kuwaitis, which is not in line with the PIFSS Law, particularly regarding the retirement procedures for disabled employees and caregivers.

Comments Post Comment

Leave a Comment

Submit