Kuwait Court Hands Down Seven-Year Sentences and Over $35m in Fines in Online Gambling and Money Laundering Case

A criminal court in Kuwait has imposed seven-year prison sentences on nine individuals convicted of running an online gambling platform and laundering the proceeds of illegal activity, in what authorities characterised as an organised criminal enterprise.

In addition to the custodial sentences, the court ordered each of the nine defendants to pay a fine of KD1m (approximately $3.3m). This brings the combined personal fines to KD9m (around $29.7m).

The court also levied a separate financial penalty of more than KD1.839m (about $6.0m) against a company connected to the case. Altogether, total fines imposed exceed KD10.839m, equivalent to roughly $35.7m.

The Ministry of Interior said investigations revealed that money generated from gambling activities had been channelled through bank accounts associated with a medical clinic and several commercial companies.

According to authorities, the funds were falsely logged as legitimate revenue before being laundered, recycled and transferred overseas in an effort to disguise their illegal source.

Officials stated that the convictions were the result of sustained security operations aimed at dismantling organised crime networks and safeguarding Kuwait’s financial system from illicit practices.

The ministry also issued a warning to the public, stressing that accessing illegal gambling websites or taking part in their operations is a criminal offence. It added that strict legal measures will be pursued against anyone who uses digital platforms to carry out unlawful financial activities.

By fLEXI tEAM