KUWAIT CITY — A criminal court in Kuwait has handed down prison sentences and hefty fines to eight expatriates involved in a major money laundering scheme. On October 3, the Criminal Court’s State Security Circuit, led by Judge Nasser Al-Bader alongside Judges Omar Al-Mulaifi, Abdullah Al-Faleh, and Salem Al-Zayed, sentenced the individuals to 10 years in prison with hard labor. The court ordered the sentences to be enforced immediately.

In addition to the prison terms, the court imposed a combined fine of 18 million Kuwaiti dinars (KD) on the defendants. The ruling also included penalties against two commercial companies implicated in the case, mandating a KD 9 million fine to be paid by the entities and ordering their permanent closure.

The verdict marks a significant legal action in Kuwait’s efforts to combat financial crimes and money laundering activities. Further details regarding the nature of the laundering operations or the identities of the expatriates and companies involved were not disclosed in the official statements.