The Cabinet yesterday decided to refer to the public prosecution a suspicious multimillion-dinar deal involving the sale of stocks of an unlisted company between two candidates running in the National Assembly polls. After hearing a report on the deal by Minister of Commerce and Industry Amani Buresli, the Cabinet decided to refer the suspected money laundering deal for a legal probe, an official statement said. The Cabinet also decided to hear another detailed report on the issue next week.
A local newspaper reported a few days ago that the value of the deal was around KD 15 million paid to one of the two candidates who is also an ex-MP and has been involved in the corruption scandal involving 12 other former lawmakers. The report said that the value of the company whose shares were sold did not exceed KD 1 million at best but was still sold for KD 15 million, raising suspicions that it was a case of money laundering or corruption. Local electronic media also reported that the candidate who received the money has decided to delay launching his election media campaign because he believes he will not be allowed to contest the parliamentary elections.
At least 13 former MPs were interrogated last month by the public prosecution over allegations that millions of dinars were deposited into their bank accounts illegally, raising suspicion of money laundering or corruption. The Cabinet also reviewed drafts of three election reform bills regarding the establishment of an independent election commission, setting up an authority for integrity and fairness and the establishment of an independent national committee to oversee election campaigns.
Full Article: Suspicious deal between candidates under probe | Kuwait Times.