Barrak Jail Term Quashed, OPPN Vows Poll Boycott
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SUBSCRIPTION TUESDAY, MAY 28, 2013 RAJAB 18, 1434 AH www.kuwaittimes.net Romania Iran’s vote US typewriter Nadal unfurls largest brings aficionados survives flag in receding rewrite history, French the15 world Web14 access slowly36 Open20 scare Barrak jail term quashed, Max 41º oppn vows poll boycott Min 27º High Tide 02:37 & 13:08 Amir accepts Hussein’s resignation, Shamali to stand in Low Tide 07:55 & 20:50 40 PAGES NO: 15822 150 FILS By B Izzak Amir urges national unity KUWAIT: In fast-paced developments yesterday, the appeals court nullified the five-year jail term against opposition leader Musallam Al-Barrak and ordered a retrial, as the resignation of Oil Minister Hani Hussein was accepted, sparing him from facing a grilling over the $2.2 billion penalty payment to US’ Dow Chemical. National Assembly Speaker Ali Al-Rashed meanwhile said the government will attend today’s session which could discuss the interior minister grilling, while after a lengthy meeting, opposition ex-MPs declared they have decided to boycott any future election if the constitu- tional court confirms the controversial amendment to the electoral law. The ruling by the appeals court nullified the verdict against Barrak by the criminal court, saying the trial pro- ceedings were illegal. But the appeals court did not send the case back to the criminal court and decided to conduct the retrial itself. The court also agreed to hear the testimonies of the witnesses demanded by Barrak’s legal team and denied by the lower court and who include Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al- Sabah, but it was not immediately known if the premier will actually be summoned to testify. The appeals court set June 9 for the first hearing in order to inform the wit- nesses. Barrak was handed the harsh sentence last month by the criminal court even after his lawyers had walked out of the trial in protest against the judge’s refusal to sum- mon a number of witnesses, including the prime minis- ter. The criminal court jailed the former opposition law- maker on charges of insulting HH the Amir during a speech at a public rally on Oct 15. The appeals court also reduced a two-year jail term against opposition tweeter Rashed Al-Enezi to 20 months on charges he insulted the Amir on Twitter. Enezi has been in jail since January and he still has the right to challenge the ruling in the cassation court. Enezi is also on trial in two other KUWAIT: HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah performs a traditional dance as he holds hands with Falah bin Eid bin Jame’ and other dignitaries at a din- similar cases. ner banquet held in his honor by bin Jame’ yesterday. — KUNA (See Page 4) Continued on Page 15 KUWAIT: HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, with the attendance of HH the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, attended Summiteer seeks to inspire Kuwait Airways yesterday a dinner banquet held in his honor by Falah SHARJAH: Adventurer Raha Moharrak, the first Saudi denies flouting bin Eid bin Jame’. In a brief speech on the occasion, the woman and youngest Arab to conquer Everest, urged Amir expressed satisfaction to meet with his compatri- women in the conservative Muslim kingdom of the Gulf ots and urged Kuwaiti people to protect their national to “challenge themselves” as she arrived back in the rules in jet deal unity. “I am glad to meet my dear compatriots, from all region. Her group of four, including a Qatari royal, a walks of life, and around the table of brother Falah bin KUWAIT: In response to newspaper reports on Eid bin Jame’,” the Amir said. “This meeting shows clearly Palestinian and an Iranian, was greeted with cheers and whether a new deal in which Kuwait Airways the close and candid relations between Kuwaiti people garlands of flowers on arrival from Nepal late Sunday at Corporation (KAC) intends to purchase 25 new air- and ruler.” Sharjah International Airport in the United Arab craft to update its fleet went through the right chan- The Amir noted that the meeting, interaction and Emirates. “It was unbelievable,” an emotional 25-year- nels, KAC’s media office yesterday issued a press consultation between the ruler and people were long- old Moharrak, covered from head to toe in a black cloak statement to confirm that no laws or rules had been respected traditions based on Kuwaiti people’s “reli- or abaya, told AFP. “I’m the first but I really hope I’m not violated and that the deal was more than necessary gious teaching and democratic experience”. Sheikh the last,” she said. “I hope it awakens the intention in to update and upgrade the carrier’s planes in the Sabah urged Kuwaiti people to continue their hard (Saudi) women to challenge themselves more.” course of development. work for the welfare and progress of their homeland. Moharrak reached the peak of Everest on May 19, in a The press release stated that according to article “The challenges we face are many and our ambitions first for Saudi Arabia, the only country in the world 11 of law 6/2008 that stipulates turning KAC into a and aspirations are great which require hard and sin- where women are not allowed to drive and where their shareholding company, and according to the fatwa cere work for serving and achieving the prominence of sporting activities are severely restricted. She left her and legislation department, KAC was exempted from our homeland.” home in the Red Sea port of Jeddah on April 3 after a the supervision and monitoring of the Audit Bureau Sheikh Sabah underlined the importance of national year and a half of rigorous training. By reaching the and the Central Tenders Committee (CTC). unity among Kuwaitis. “I urge my compatriots to retain highest point in the world, she said she has now “Accordingly, KAC violated no monitoring laws by the one family spirit to protect national unity and to achieved her ambition of climbing nine mountains, directly contacting the manufacturers,” stressed the statement, pointing out that article 2 of law 21/1965 counter any attempt that aims to instigate sectarian or including in Europe, Tanzania, the South Pole and on KAC’s aims included authorizing the board of tribal sedition among Kuwaiti people,” he stressed. He Argentina. called for upholding the state of law and the respect of directors to purchase, sell, charter and lease air- Speaking to AFP by telephone from Jeddah, her planes, spare parts and other equipment. The release judicial verdicts. “The law should be applied on all with- father Hassan said: “I’m very proud of her... It’s great out any exception,” he said. The Amir reiterated his also stressed that KAC’s board of directors had been what she managed to tell people here and everywhere.” authorized by Kuwait Investment Authority (KIA) to adherence to the democratic approach and respect of Moharrak, who had worked hard to convince her family the state constitution. He thanked bin Jame’ for the kind take all measures needed to upgrade the carrier’s to allow her to scale the 8,848-m (29,029-ft) Saudi climber Raha Moharrak poses with her coun- invitation, and prayed to Allah the Almighty for Kuwait’s fleet and sign necessary relevant contracts. Continued on Page 15 try’s flag on Mount Everest on May 18, 2013. — AFP safety, glory and progress. — KUNA Continued on Page 15 in the news Kuwait grants Bahrain bans contact Saudi monarch turns Bahrain jails 14 for Oman $2.5bn aid with ‘terrorist’ Hezb guard into ministry killing Pakistani MUSCAT: Kuwait will finance development projects DUBAI: Bahrain yesterday banned opposition groups from RIYADH: Saudi King Abdullah yesterday upgraded the DUBAI: A top Bahraini court upheld a 15-year jail term for in Oman worth $2.5 billion as part of pledges made having contacts with Hezbollah, as the Sunni-ruled king- National Guard, the kingdom’s parallel army seen as a pillar of 14 Shiites yesterday after they were convicted of killing a two years ago by members of the Gulf Cooperation dom moves to limit the Lebanese Shiite movement’s sus- the ruling royals, to a ministry to be headed by his son Prince Pakistani in Manama during the 2011 uprising, a judicial Council, the non-OPEC sultanate announced yester- pected influence on its restive Shiite majority. Last month Mitab. The decisions were announced in a decree by King source said. The Court of Cassation announced its verdict day. Based on the framework agreement signed by the Gulf state listed Hezbollah as a “terrorist organisation” - Abdullah, the state news agency SPA reported. Sandhurst- in the presence of 12 of the accused, the source said, representatives from both countries’ governments in in line with the US - following a recommendation by the educated Prince Mitab, who heads the force, has been adding that the remaining two had been tried in absen- Muscat, Oman will receive the funds in 10 years with parliament that is boycotted by the opposition. “Political appointed Minister of National Guard, the decree said. King tia. A court convicted the defendants of beating the vic- $250 million to be granted annually, Oman’s state associations are prohibited from having any form of con- Abdullah had himself led the National Guard from 1962 to tim to death “for terrorist purposes”, the source said, cit- news agency ONA reported. The money will be used tact with the Hezbollah organisation,” Justice Minister 2010, when he handed its command over to Mitab.