KUWAIT: The public prosecutor ordered detaining two managers working at the Public Authority for Housing Welfare over charges of embezzling KD 1 million from state funds and ordered summoning a third manager, who is in hiding, for involvement in the same case, Al-Rai reported yesterday. Informed sources said the public prosecution managed to reclaim KD 600,000 from the first and second suspects' bank accounts and ordered seizing the third suspect's bank accounts pending his arrest.

The three suspects are facing charges of money laundering, forgery and usurping public funds. Notably, Minister of Public Works and Minister of State for Housing Affairs Rana Al-Fares had referred the three managers to the public prosecutor with documents proving deposits of KD 1 million into their bank accounts. The three suspects had been listing the names of citizens to receive rent allowances, which they collected and took for themselves without those citizens' knowledge after forging their signatures.

Meanwhile, well-informed sources told Kuwait local daily Al-Rai that the Ministry of Health has referred a health zone director to the public prosecution over suspicions of usurping public funds. The sources explained that the health zone director had exempted a company from paying an over KD 3 million in penalties for violating the provisions of its contract with the ministry.

Expats over 60
In other news, official sources at the Public Authority for Manpower explained the decision to ban issuance of work permits for expats aged 60 and above who hold high school degree or lower includes the transfer and renewal of work permits. The sources said according to official statistics, this category of expats number over 83,000 and they would have to leave the country when the decision goes into effect at the beginning of next year.

However, while the decision comes as part of the government's vision to resolve demographic imbalances and their impact on the local labor market, many expats argue that the decision will have security, social and cultural impacts as it would increase the number of "bachelors" in Kuwait and deprive families of the presence of a senior member to tend to family matters and concerns. A number of expats expressed fears that the decision would break their families apart and force their children to leave the country, as they hold dependent visas sponsored by them.

Separately, Al-Rai reported that the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs is currently investigating several complaints filed by citizens concerning an imam in one of the Capital governorate mosques. The ministry's assistant undersecretary for mosques Mohammed Al-Mutairi said according to the complaints, the imam claimed that doomsday will be in 2024. He added the complaints were referred to relevant authorities.

Mutairi pointed out that the complaints mentioned that the imam had been terrifying worshippers by his sermons. "You will hear a deafening cry - when you do, kneel down and pray," the complaints claimed the imam told worshipers, adding that he had delivered many controversial sermons and demanded relieving him from his post.