KUWAIT CITY — A Kuwaiti citizen was acquitted by the Misdemeanor Court on June 15 of charges related to possessing alcoholic beverages with the intent to sell, after the court found insufficient evidence to support the prosecution's case.

The court’s ruling underscored the legal principle that a crime must be clearly established by evidence before a conviction can be issued. Prosecutors had accused the defendant of possessing 12 bottles of liquor with intent to distribute, citing Article 206 bis of the Penal Code. However, the court determined that the case file lacked concrete evidence proving the sale or distribution of alcohol by the defendant.

Testimonies from two prosecution witnesses indicated they did not know the purpose of the defendant's possession of the liquor. The investigation carried out by police concluded that the seized alcohol was intended for personal use, a claim further supported by the defendant’s statements both during the investigation and in court.

Attorney Abdulmohsen Al-Qattan, representing the defendant, argued that the prosecution failed to establish the essential elements of the offense. He emphasized that there was no evidence showing his client engaged in selling, delivering, or receiving alcoholic beverages. The defense maintained that the liquor was solely for personal consumption and presented this as a key point in contesting the charges.

The court highlighted that suspicions or assumptions are insufficient grounds for conviction, affirming that criminal judgments require certainty based on firm evidence rather than conjecture or doubt. Consequently, the judge ruled that the available evidence did not satisfy the threshold necessary to prove the defendant’s intent to sell or distribute alcohol.

This verdict marks a rejection of the Public Prosecution's attempt to punish the defendant under the relevant penal code section for possession with intent to sell. The case serves as a reaffirmation of the judiciary’s adherence to principles of due process and evidentiary standards in criminal proceedings.