UK court rejects Al-Raja’an request for cash, property
Pin funds only
KUWAIT CITY, Nov 13: The British High Court has rejected former Director General of Public Institution for Social Security Fahd Al-Raja’an’s request for the return of a large part of his properties and financial assets, reports Al-Qabas daily quoting informed sources.
They explained that AlRaja’an receives a monthly amount from his bank deposits as pin money based on British courts’ verdicts.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs is currently working in coordination with British authorities to put an end to this file under the umbrella of Kuwaiti-British consultations. Al-Raja’an’s expenses have dramatically increased in the recent period, as he hired the best lawyers and consultants in Britain.
During a recent meeting presided over by His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Saqbah, the Cabinet issued directives to all state bodies to exert maximum efforts in order to retrieve Public Authority for Social Security’s money and ensure Al-Raja’an is detained by Kuwaiti authorities for questioning.
The Cabinet agreed on the importance of following up the file of corruption in order to put an end to it concurrently with toughening the relevant procedures to punish those involved in corruption.
It reviewed the report presented by the State Minister for Cabinet Affairs Anas Al-Saleh concerning the legal procedures taken by the Fatwa and Legislation Department regarding the theft of public funds in Public Authority for Social Security. The report included documents that helped in the issuance of the verdict against Al-Raja’an by the British judiciary to seize all the financial and other assets owned by AlRaja’an anywhere in the world.
Recently, head of Fatwa and Legislation Department Justice Salah Al-Masaad declared that the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom ordered a worldwide suspension of all assets, estimated to be $847 million, belonging to Al-Raja’an.
He explained that the verdict issued by the British court compels Al-Raja’an to disclose all his assets throughout the world. The verdict was issued on Oct 16, pending proceedings of a civil lawsuit filed against the former head of Public Institution of Social Security and others. It was based on documents and “presented arguments”. The sentence to freeze the assets has been effective since the issuance of the verdict.
Justice Al-Masaad indicated that the personnel of the Fatwa and Legislation Department had been engaged in a marathon and tiring task, lasting for three decades, examining and authenticating documents in various countries and of diverse languages.
He added that they coordinated with specialized foreign bureaus to follow up and prepare the case against AlRaja’an.
Also, the British tribunal has accepted a request from the Public Institution of Social Security to reveal Al-Raja’an’s assets, where he is compelled to do this regarding all his assets worldwide.