KUWAIT: The criminal court yesterday abstained from passing a verdict against a female citizen accused of joining the Islamic State (IS) in Sinai. The defendant, who faces charges of joining the terrorist group said that she had left Kuwait after receiving an invitation from a person who identified herself as a member of the organization. After being asked to do things she did not approve of, the woman made a failed attempt to escape, but was detained, and her father paid a ransom of KD 5,000 for her release. Separately, the criminal court sentenced a citizen and a number of expats to jail terms ranging between five and 10 years over charges of smuggling a container full of liquor bottles into Kuwait.

By Meshaal Al-Enezi and A Saleh