Jailed for Bribery PHOTO of the DAY
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FREE Established 1961 Friday ISSUE NO: 17553 RAMADAN 23, 1439 AH FRIDAY, JUNE 8, 2018 Local youth turn iftar Trump hosts first iftar 6 leftovers into rich soil 10 dinner at White House IMSAK 03:03 FAJR 03:13 DHUHR 11:47 ASR 15:21 MAGHRIB 18:47 ISHA 20:18 Saudi,Saudi, UAEUAE announceannounce jointjoint economic,economic, defensedefense dealsdeals See Page 11 2 Friday Local Friday, June 8, 2018 Jailed for bribery PHOTO OF THE DAY Local Spotlight By Muna Al-Fuzai [email protected] Kuwaiti female employee was sentenced to three Ayears in prison and fined KD 8,000 for taking a bribe. Lawyer Mona Al-Arbash explained the circum- stances of the case to local media, saying the exchange was videotaped and proved the crime against the employee, who had demanded a bribe of KD 4,000 to fix an appointment with a visiting doctor for a patient. Arbash added the case goes back to 2017 and has been referred to investigation in coordination with the legal channels of the ministry. This case is over, but the matter of demanding a bribe is not, because as long as there are corrupt employees who think that they can never be caught or questioned, then they will keep committing these ill actions. Not only do they give monikers such as “commission” to the bribe, but also encourage and provoke lower-ranking employees to do what they do. Eventually, everyone gets quick cash with what they think is no harm done. But the truth of the matter is that the damage is far beyond these small and greedy minds. I believe that bribery is a great risk to the individual and society. The threat is in the destruction of society, the spread of corruption, and absence of respect and trust in law and morals. I see bribery as one of the most serious crimes that violate the trust between the citizen and the state because bribery leads to the loss of citizens’ confidence in justice and Kuwait Towers during a colorful light show. — Photo by Mohamed Sobhi/KUNA integrity of the state. In addition, bribery leads to violation of equality between citizens. I see the spread of bribery as a social disease in which members of the community can’t have access to their civil rights. It is known that bribery is linked to corruption in any Respect on the road society for two reasons. First, some people only care about personal and private gains with no consideration of the legitimacy of their needs or the damage to others. The other reason is the low salaries, poor standard of living and bad ‘Local views on how the car you drive determines economic conditions of some people, including workers, which may be a reason to accept bribes. But the risk is that human rights are lost and it only makes how you are treated by other drivers’ the circle of corruption in a society wider and deeper. We all know that Islam has forbidden bribery under any name and By Nawara Fattahova accident due to this. But once when I took my boss’ luxury form, whether it is called a gift or reward or otherwise - the vehicle to the garage, I felt a great difference in how they name does not change the truth. otorists in Kuwait are often accorded respect - or were avoiding me, as they assumed I was an important per- I keep thinking why should we fight bribery in the busi- not - depending on the vehicle they drive. These dif- sonality,” said Omar, an Arab expat. ness sector specifically? The first thing I can think of is M ferences in treatment can be seen by both by other Police also allegedly behave differently depending on the because bribery is detrimental to the equality of the employ- drivers and the police as well. Drivers - especially those driv- type of vehicle. Sports cars are often targeted by policemen. ees themselves. When an employee gets bribed for approv- ing sedans - usually respect large vehicles such as SUVs and It’s true that some drivers of sports vehicles drive recklessly, ing illegal work and makes more money than his or her col- pickups. They feel that in the event of a crash, their car will be but this doesn’t mean that police should target all sports cars, league who does the same work without accepting bribes, destroyed by the bigger vehicle. Many motorists have noticed even if the driver is driving properly without committing any this may encourage the latter to take the same wrong turn, the difference in other drivers’ behavior when they changed violation. thus resulting in rampant corruption in the administration, especially when a corrupt employee gets a promotion the vehicle they drive. Salah, 36, noticed a great difference in attitudes when he instead of being arrested. This is a real danger. “I was treated completely differently and felt very respect- changed his car. “I had an American SUV, and later a Japanese Bribery is contrary to basic human rights, because it is a ed by other drivers when I borrowed the vehicle of my friend, sedan, and I was never stopped by any policeman except at violation of the freedoms set forth in international conven- which is a luxury jeep. I guess that people think if they hit my checkpoints. Last year I bought a sports car as it was a very tions. However, when a person is forced to pay money in car, they will have to pay a lot for repairs. I feel a huge differ- good deal and I liked it. Now when driving this car, I get order to obtain legal and administrative rights, this violates ence in drivers’ behavior when I drive my small sedan every stopped by police at least once a week, although I don’t com- dignity and the principle of equality. I believe that trans- day,” Belqis told Kuwait Times. mit any violation. I end up without any fine as I totally respect parency is the solution to deter all law abusers and manipu- Drivers also feel a difference in other motorists’ behavior all traffic laws and rules. But why this annoying behavior lators of public money and give opportunities to the people depending on their nationality. Expats usually feel that towards me and other sports car drivers?” he wondered. to learn how to run things in their country. A lack of trans- Kuwaitis and even some expats don’t really respect them on When it’s a female driving a sports car, it’s even worse. “I parency and accountability contradicts with the principle of the road, especially if they are driving old vehicles. They guess policemen think that sports cars are made for men, and equal opportunities, and jeopardizes humanity and civiliza- assume that if an accident happens, the police will put the when women drive it, they somehow insult the prestige of this tion and values of citizenship. blame on the expat, especially if he is a non-Arab. masculine vehicle. I don’t really know what is their problem The sentencing is an example of the rule of law and “Expats usually don’t drive very expensive vehicles, and with me, but whenever a police patrol passes next to me, they shows the harm inflicted on this patient by a bad and corrupt old cars are not much respected. I have an ordinary new but have to stop me. Although my car is not modified, many of employee, and the dissemination of the facts of this case is a not expensive vehicle, and most drivers don’t give me way. them claim it is and issue me a ticket, although I haven’t com- good act to raise awareness of the seriousness of this crime. Many times they’ve cut in front of me, and once I even had an mitted any offense,” said Nouf. 4 Friday Local Friday, June 8, 2018 Part of the #PeopleArePeople campaign by Project 189 is showing close up images of domestic workers in Kuwait in order to focus in on their humanity. — Photo by Roxanne Heuschkel. By Jeri Al-Jeri group of volunteers in Kuwait have taken it upon themselves to lessen Awhat sociologists call the element of “otherness” that causes different so- cieties to perceive and treat other communities, who share the same ge- ographical existence, differently than they perceive and treat themselves. Friday 5 Local Friday, June 8, 2018 Kuwait is very small geographically, yet very deep de- sensitivity issues, we asked her: What sort of feelings We share stories of home, of the things we miss, and mographically. Naturally, the predominant members of do you want the public to focus on in order to humanize provide students with a place to learn and be protected society who feel they are higher members of the society, our view of domestic workers? while supporting our families. I chose a close-up portrait in the scheme of things, are more privileged than frag- Zahra: The aim of our campaign is to draw the pub- composition with a focus on the eyes to allow the viewer mented communities who have variant religious, ideo- lic’s attention to the human experience of domestic to look at the faces without distraction. By gazing into logical and linguistic dispositions. These ‘other’ workers. Having left their home countries, leaving be- eyes, I want the viewer to feel as engaged with these communities may be victims of mistreatment and verbal hind family, friends and loved ones, and moving to a women as I do, and build empathy for the often op- abuse on a daily basis.