Monday, February 12, 2007

Acting on information and armed with a search and arrest warrant, police
raided an office of a well-known general trading and contracting company in
downtown Kuwait City and arrested 4 men -- three Indians and a Bangladeshi -
for using the office as a gambling den, reports Al-Watan daily. During the
raid police also seized from the men 72 bottles of whisky packed in four
cartons, porno films and thousands of dinars in cash. Police have also
seized a roulette machine used in gambling. Meanwhile the Al-Rai daily said
police also raided an Arabic house in Khaitan and arrested 32 Asian gamblers
and seized from them KD 1,650. It has been reported most of them are
residence law violators. Family probed in maid death: Police have detained
an Egyptian family for interrogation for allegedly pushing to death an
Indian maid, identified only as Teety, from the balcony of their apartment
in Farwaniya, reports Al-Watan daily. The daily quoting a security source
said the Egyptian sponsor, after allegedly pushing the 29-year-old maid to
her death, called the Operations Department of the Ministry of Interior and
reported that his maid had jumped from the balcony of the apartment in an
apparent attempt to end her life. The maid who survived the fall was rushed
to a hospital. However, she died a short time later. The family was detained
for interrogation after an unidentified nurse at the hospital told the
hospital interrogator that the victim before her death said she was being
tortured by her sponsor and thrown down from the balcony of the apartment.
Kuwaiti rescued from burning car: Timely arrival of police saved the life of
a Kuwaiti man who was refusing to get out of his burning car, reports
Al-Watan daily. The daily quoting a security source said several motorists
called the Operations Department of the Ministry of Interior when the man
locked the car from inside the car after the vehicle caught fire on Maghreb
Expressway and refused to open the door. Police rushed to the car, broke
side glass of the vehicle and pulled the man out to safety against his will.
The daily did not give more details but from the man's behavior it has
become apparent he wanted to end his life. Journalist's brother stabbed: The
brother of an unidentified journalist has been admitted to a hospital in
critical condition with nine stab wounds on various parts of his body,
reports Al-Qabas daily. The daily quoting a reliable security source said it
was the case of a mistaken identity. The suspects believed to be brothers of
an unidentified member of the National Assembly lay in wait for the victim
and thinking it was a journalist who had criticized their brother in his
articles pounced on him, stabbed him and escaped leaving the man in a pool
of blood. The daily did not give more details. However, it is believed
police are investigating the incident. Gang of thieves nabbed: Salmiya
securitymen arrested a gang of four people - a Kuwaiti, Iranian, Saudi and a
Jordanian - for robbing shops in Salmiya and Farwaniya areas says
Al-Seyassah. Hawally Security Department, on receiving information about the
gang, put them under surveillance and found that they specialized in robbing
mobile shops and groceries. The gang resided in Salmiya area and securitymen
laid a trap to arrest them. All four confessed their crimes and have been
referred to Public Prosecution for further interrogation.

15 residence violators held: During a crackdown on vice and residence law
violators in Farwaniya, police have arrested 15 hawkers - Asians and Arabs -
for violating residence laws, reports Al-Rai daily. Police also seized from
them a quantity of foodstuff, clothes, and several various types of goods
including toys and referred them to the authorities.

Maid injured in escape bid: An Indonesian maid, whose identity has not been
disclosed, has been admitted to the Mubarak Al-Kabeer hospital with serious
injuries and broken limbs, reports Al-Anba daily. A reliable security
source, quoting the maid's sponsor, told the daily the maid fell from the
third floor apartment while attempting to climb down with the help of a
'rope' made of bed sheets in an attempt to escape from his home. The rope
allegedly snapped when the maid was halfway and fell in the building
compound. However, police said to be waiting for the maid to recover to take
her statement.

Kuwaitis victim of police brutality: Two Kuwaitis recently complained to the
Al-Watan daily how some securitymen tortured them for no reason, reports
Al-Watan daily. One of the victims said he was visiting his friend and
suddenly police barged into the home and accused them of possessing and
consuming alcohol and drugs. According to the victims police raided their
home without a warrant from the Public Prosecution. However, they were taken
to the Rumaithiya Police Station and detained for four days. They claimed
they were tortured by police in a vain attempt to force them to confess to
the charge under duress.

Officers at the police station are also said to have threatened to cause
them harm if they reported the incident. The men also told the daily police
failed to find either drugs or alcohol in the house or were there any traces
of drug or alcohol consumption. Moreover, when they were referred to
Forensics a test showed negative results. The victims have filed complaints
with the General Department for Interrogation and the Public Prosecutor has
been informed about the incident.

Stray horse causes road panic: Traffic on the Fahaheel Expressway was
disrupted for some time after a horse which had escaped from a farm caused
panic among motorists, reports Al-Anba daily. It has been reported the horse
was also responsible for a two-vehicle collision. Securitymen rushed to the
spot, caught the horse and restored the traffic flow. Police are looking for
the owner of the horse.

Indian found dead in lorry: Police are investigating the death of an
unidentified Indian man whose partially decomposed remains were found in the
back of a half lorry at an unidentified location in Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh,
reports Al-Anba daily. Initial Forensic report showed the man, who was
wanted by law for allegedly trading in liquor, died five days ago.