SUBSCRIPTION TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2016 JAMADA ALAWWAL 29, 1437 AH www.kuwaittimes.net Amir attends Saudi center Foreign govts Kobe Bryant’s officers’ graduation looks to online press Saudis Lakers at Ali Al-Sabah videos to counter on workers’ shock mighty Military2 Academy extremism8 delayed21 wages Warriors20 Top court upholds 4-year Min 17º Max 27º jail term against tweeter High Tide 12:03 & 23:23 MP wants criminal, forensic depts to be shifted from MoI Low Tide 05:48 & 17:40 40 PAGES NO: 16807 150 FILS By B Izzak conspiracy theories KUWAIT: The court of cassation yesterday upheld a four- year jail term against Kuwaiti tweeter Ahmad Abdulaziz Al- Age barriers Fadhel for writing comments on his account deemed offen- sive to a number of top judges. Fadhel was sentenced to four years in jail by the criminal court in Oct 2014 after three top judges sued him on charges of defamation. The sen- tence was confirmed by the appeals court in February last year, and yesterday the same verdict was upheld by the cas- sation court, whose rulings are final. The court also asked By Badrya Darwish Fadhel to pay a temporary compensation of KD 5,001 to the judges. This allows them to seek larger damages from civil courts. Meanwhile, MP Saleh Ashour yesterday called for trans- ferring the forensic and criminal evidence departments from [email protected] the interior ministry to the justice ministry to ensure that they carry out their duties in a fair and neutral manner. The lawmaker said that the two departments play a very impor- ne of my friends recently came to me com- tant role in helping courts and the public prosecution in plaining that he cannot bring his father to vis- establishing justice and it is not logical for them to remain it Kuwait as he normally does. I jokingly asked under the control of the interior ministry. This demand is not Ohim, “Is your father a terrorist?” He said that they new as many MPs in the past have made similar proposals, allowed his mother but his father’s visit application but the government has always opposed it. was rejected because he was born before 1950. And I Also yesterday, MP Saud Al-Huraiji criticized Justice told him: Are you sure this is the reason? There are no Minister Yaqoub Al-Sane for sending him wrong answers to security concerns or other issues? a question he had asked him. Huraiji also threatened to grill Honestly speaking, I’m not interfering in the legis- the minister for failing to pay attention to his question. lation in my country and especially with any meas- ures that are taken for the security and safety of Kuwait. I also totally support any rules that are for EXCLUSIVE the safety and stability of my country. But this one, excuse me, I could not digest. I tried Yunus upbeat to think it through left, right and center, and I could not see any benefit out of it, as the guy is not coming for residency or to stay but only for a short visit to on future of see his son. I’m sure when someone visits, he buys tickets and spends money here, which can boost the microfinance economy. Visitors are equal to tourism, but as we don’t have much tourism in Kuwait, so God compen- By Dr Serajul I Bhuiyan sates us with visitors for the people who work in Kuwait who receive their families, and this equals DHAKA: HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al- tourism. They come here and buy tickets, eat in Jaber Al-Sabah will meet Bangladeshi Nobel Laureate restaurants, go shopping, take taxis, stay in hotels, Prof Dr Muhammad Yunus today. Yunus is the visit local sights, etc. founder of Grameen Bank and a pioneer in the field I don’t know in which way it harms us if people of microcredit. In an exclusive over 50 or 60 or 65 come to visit us. What’s the point interview with Kuwait Times pri- of keeping them away? I know a friend of mine who or to his arrival in Kuwait, Dr brought his father recently to be treated in Kuwait Yunus discussed his views on and took him to a private hospital, and so far he has the global economy and the paid thousands of dinars for his treatment. So in growth of microfinance in the which way does this harm Kuwait? Middle East. If the reason for the age barrier is health treat- Today, microfinance ment, then it could be easily tackled. I heard on the providers reach more than 200 other hand that yes, there are a few people who are Muhammad Yunus million clients globally. In taking advantage to come and get treatment in pub- Bangladesh, Grameen Bank has lic hospitals. But I found this a bit difficult to under- 8.4 million borrowers, 96 percent of them women. In stand. How are they allowed to do so unless they 2006, Prof Yunus and Grameen Bank were jointly have wasta or have cheated the system? In this case, awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his contribution in they and not the whole society should be punished the process of poverty alleviation in the world. for the bad doings of a few. And if I’m wrong and it’s not just a few but many Professor Yunus is one of only seven individuals to who are doing this, then the government should set have received the Nobel Peace Prize, the United a rule to require visitors to have health insurance or States Presidential Medal of Freedom and the United set a rule that they cannot be treated in public hospi- States Congressional Gold Medal, and the only tals. Full stop. Muslim in the world who has received the US Imagine if other countries tomorrow started refus- Congressional Gold Medal. For his constant innova- ing to give Kuwaitis visit visas if we are older than 40 tion and enterprise, Fortune magazine named or 50 or 65 or whatever age. No one has put an age Professor Yunus in 2012 as “one of the greatest entre- limit on visitors as long as they are not a security preneurs of our time”. threat. See Page 3 for full interview LOCAL TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2016 His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah (right) and His KUWAIT: (From left) His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah, Sheikh Jaber Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah, His Highness the Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah attend the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, National Assembly Speaker Marzouq ceremony. — Photos by Amiri Diwan and Fouad Al-Shaikh Al-Ghanem, His Highness Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah and Chief of the Court of Cassation and Constitutional Court Justice Yousef Al- Mutawaa attend the graduation ceremony of the 43rd batch of non-commissioned officers at Ali Al-Sabah Military Academy yesterday. Amir patronizes officers’ graduation at Ali Al-Sabah Military Academy KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir al graduation, then a demonstration Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al- by elite forces. His Highness the Amir Sabah, the Supreme Commander of distributed the awards to the top the Armed Forces, patronized and graduates. He later headed to the attended the graduation ceremony of Amiri Hall where he was saluted by the the 43rd batch of non-commissioned faculty officers. And, a memorial officers at Ali Al-Sabah Military award was granted to His Highness Academy yesterday. the Amir and His Highness the Crown His Highness the Amir’s motorcade Prince. arrived at the ceremony site where he was greeted by Deputy Prime Minister Modern innovations and Minister of Defense Sheikh Khaled In an address at the ceremony, the Jarrah Al-Sabah, Chief of the General faculty commander, Lieutenant Staff of the Armed Forces Lieutenant General Kheder, expressed gratitude General Mohammad Khaled Al- to the military and political leaders Kheder, the Defense Undersecretary who contributed to enabling the facul- Jassar Abdulrazzak Al-Jassar, the facul- ty to stay abreast of modern scientific ty chief General Mohammad Ahmed innovations, adopting latest combat Al-Kheder and other commanders. techniques and doctrines. He also The ceremony was attended by His expressed gratitude to the officers, Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh non-commissioned officers, educators His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah hon- His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah hon- Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, and trainees. ors a graduate. ors a graduate. National Assembly Speaker Marzouq He urged the graduates to remain Ali Al-Ghanem, senior sheikhs, His faithful to Kuwait, His Highness the Highness Sheikh Nasser Al- Amir and His Highness the Crown Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, His Prince, shun sectarian or tribal affilia- Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh tions and follow the ancestors’ foot- Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, steps in preserving the homeland Chief of the Court of Cassation and while being united. He also called on Constitutional Court Justice Yousef them to abide by guidelines of His Jassem Al-Mutawaa, Minister of Amiri Highness the Amir. Diwan Affairs Sheikh Nasser Sabah Al- He renewed the pledge to safe- Ahmad Al-Sabah, First Deputy Prime guard the internal front as well as the Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh homeland security and stability and Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, renewed the pledge of allegiance to Deputy Premier and Finance Minister the top leaders, saying in part, “we and Acting Minister of Oil Anas Al- promise that we will remain the pro- Saleh, senior State officials, a large tecting shield of our dear homeland group of students’ families and citi- and our Amir.