Kuwait city: Kuwait's Public Prosecution has referred 73 defendants to the criminal court for their involvement in a commercial draw manipulation case. The charges against these individuals include bribery, mediation, forgery of official and electronic documents, and money laundering.
According to Kuwait News Agency, the Public Prosecution released a statement regarding the manipulation of commercial draws, which were conducted under the supervision of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry between 2021 and 2025. The statement detailed that the defendants were sent to the criminal court after investigations provided conclusive evidence of a shared criminal intent among the perpetrators.
The Public Prosecution has seized both cash and in-kind assets to recover illicit proceeds, preparing for further legal actions. The manipulation affected 110 commercial draws with prizes such as vehicles, cash, and in-kind assets, having an estimated total value of KD 1.244,467 million (approximately USD 4 million).
Investigations were carried out by a specialized team of public prosecutors who thoroughly examined all aspects of the case. They coordinated with relevant authorities to ensure that all financial, technical, and legal facets were addressed. The investigations revealed an organized criminal network that compromised the fairness of draw procedures by exploiting public office and oversight weaknesses for unlawful financial gains.
The statement highlighted that the criminal acts were executed within a structured network characterized by planning and coordination. The aim was to unlawfully seize draw prizes through systematic fraudulent practices. The defendants used forged documents and fictitious waivers to transfer prizes to fraud beneficiaries, in exchange for financial payments in various forms. Furthermore, the illicit proceeds were re-invested in disguised financial transactions to evade legal scrutiny.
The Public Prosecution emphasized its commitment to upholding the rule of law, protecting rights, and ensuring justice with impartiality. On March 27, the prosecution ordered the detention of a citizen and five expatriates after extensive investigations revealed their involvement in serious crimes, including forgery, bribery, and money laundering, which severely harmed national interests.
Recent social media reports indicated the involvement of a public official from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, who supervised the draws of the Kuwait Shopping Festival, Ya Hala. On March 28, Public Prosecutor Counselor Saad Al-Safran ordered confidential investigations into the Ya Hala Shopping Festival draws and prohibited the publication of related news or statements.