The lower court’s ruling sentenced the former MPs and ordered that they go to jail immediately even before the appeals court can look into their case. But the appeals court, which opened the hearing into the case, decided to suspend the implementation of the jail sentence until after their appeals had been settled by the court itself.
The former opposition MPs Khaled Al-Tahous, Falah Al-Sawwagh and Bader Al-Dahoum attended the session and the judge ordered their detention briefly before he issued his ruling to free them but asked them to pay a bail of KD 5,000 each and set March 10 as the date for the next hearing to hear the testimony of the investigating officer.
The decision means that as long as the appeals court continues to hear the case, police will not be able to arrest them for the same case.
Tahous, Sawwagh and Dahoum were sentenced to three years in jail last week for allegedly insulting HH the Amir through addresses at a public rally on Oct 10. They had categorically denied the charge. Protests broke out last week after the ruling which also prompted opposition calls for unity.
Opposition groups were expected to form a unified coalition to press for democratic demands. Youth activists have been staging sit-ins outside the Palace of Justice every night until midnight in protest against jailing activists for expressing opinions.
So far, at least four youth activists have been jailed for between two to 10 years for allegedly undermining the status of the Amir and his authorities. Many more are on trial over similar charges.
Meanwhile, grillings from members of the pro-government National Assembly are rolling as Shiite MP Faisal Al-Duwaisan yesterday filed to grill the interior minister for allegedly dealing with Israel and failing to handle opposition unrest, amid more threats to grill other ministers.
The grilling comes just after a week from another grilling submitted against the communications minister, while several other lawmakers have threatened to grill the ministers of oil, finance and defense over a variety of allegations.
The current Assembly is perceived as totally pro-government after the opposition boycotted the Dec 1 general polls in protest against the amendment of the electoral constituency law.
Duwaisan had previously threatened to grill Interior Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al-Humoud Al-Sabah but his timing was surprising especially that it comes only a few days after MP Hussein Al-Qallaf submitted the grilling against the communications minister and MPs Saadoun Hammad and Abdullah Al-Tameemi threatened they would soon file to grill Oil Minister Hani Hussein.
In his grilling, Duwaisan claimed that the interior ministry recently sent a delegation of experts to inspect a border security system it acquired from SENSTAR Corp based in Canada through a local company.
The purchase is part of a major KD 40 million contract to fortify the borders with Iraq with high-tech security systems to detect intruders. Duwaisan said that he found that SENSTAR is totally owned by the Israeli Magal Security Systems company which is based in Tel Aviv.
He claimed that the deal subjects Kuwaiti to danger because of the Israeli company. In addition, he accused the minister of violating the Israel boycott laws.
Duwaisan claimed that continuing in the deal amounts to “treason” and “subjects Kuwait’s national security to danger”.
The second issue in Duwaisan’s grilling is the accusation that the minister has failed in controlling the opposition-led protests because of the contradictory orders that were issued to security officials.
Opposition activists have repeatedly demonstrated in various parts of the country during the past several months over the amendment of the electoral constituency law and the holding of election on its basis.
The protests have also called for dissolving the new Assembly and for scrapping the amendment.
Riot police have repeatedly clashed with protesters using tear gas and stun grenades. Duwaisan alleged that the minister’s policy on the issue has been lacking.
Last week, Qallaf filed the first grilling in the current Assembly against Communications Minister Salem Al-Othaina over alleged administrative irregularities.
The two grillings will be listed for debate on February 19 but can still be delayed for two more weeks if the ministers request the delay.
