Thursday, Jul 20, 2017

Manama: Kuwait’s Ministry of Interior has warned that anyone withholding information on the whereabouts of convicts in Al Abdali terror cell would face legal measures.

The warning was issued following reports that some of the convicts disappeared on the day the Cassation Court, the highest court in the country, overturned an acquittal ruling by a lower court and ordered their imprisonment.

In its statement, the ministry urged anyone with information on the criminals to come forward.

“We call on all citizens and residents to cooperate with security forces and provide any information they may have,” the statement said.

“All those who conceal any information on the convicts or are accomplices in helping them escape will face incarceration for two years and, or, a fine of up to KD2,000.”

The ministry published the pictures of the 16 convicts wanted by the police in an effort to help people identify and report them.

On Monday, Kuwaiti daily Al Siyassah said that 14 Al Abdali Cell convicts on June 18 fled to Iran after they used small boats to reach international waters where an Iranian vessel was waiting for them.

However, the ministry in its statement said that there was no evidence the convicts were out of Kuwait.

The convicts included Kuwaiti nationals sentenced to jail terms ranging from five to 15 years and an Iranian national sentenced in absentia to death.

In September 2015, the public prosecution indicted suspects for acts that threatened national security and unity.

The defendants were also accused of intelligence with Iran and Hezbollah as well as storing weapons, ammunition and communication devices and training on the use of weapons, ammunitions and explosives.

By Habib Toumi Bureau Chief

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