KUWAIT: The ministry of education announced 1,741 students were caught cheating or trying to cheat during midterm exams that ended recently in Kuwait. Meanwhile, the public prosecution has frozen the bank accounts of those accused of leaking high school exam papers after being charged with money laundering, as they reportedly made KD 3 million from high school students. Three of the suspects are Kuwaitis (two men and a woman) and one is Syrian.

Investigations were also able to identify around 500 male and female students whose names and phone numbers were found on the phones of the suspects, who were arrested. The Syrian suspect had confessed about the role of the three citizens, one of whom is physical education teacher in the Farwaniya educational zone, saying they were sending "links" through which money was paid by students to his personal account, after which he delivered the money to the three suspects at their homes in Ahmadi governorate.

The investigations included testimonies of some students who provided detailed information about the leaks. Groups were formed of twelfth grade students, in both the science and arts streams, divided into a group for male students and another for female students. The subscription charges for one group ranged between KD 100 and KD 150, while earpieces used for cheating witnessed a significant increase prices, reaching KD 150 per piece.

In related news, the education ministry announced it has identified five other teachers involved in the leaks. It is expected the government will terminate their contracts and deprive them of end-of-service gratuities, as their names were mentioned in the investigations by the public prosecution and it was proven that they managed high school exams leak groups. They were detained pending investigation.

The education ministry confirmed it will not hesitate to apply all laws supporting the educational process, as it will combat negative phenomena in cooperation with concerned authorities in the country during the examination period to achieve justice and equality among students, to build a new generation capable of developing the country.