Gang and two companies fined KD 6.88 million as court orders their closure.
Dubai: Kuwait’s State Security and Terrorism Crimes Circuit at the Criminal Court has sentenced nine Syrian nationals to 10 years in prison after finding them guilty of running an organised criminal network involved in laundering approximately KD 2.29 million, according to Al Qabas.
The court also imposed a combined fine of KD 6.884 million on the convicted individuals and two companies involved in general trading and the sale of perfumes and incense. It ordered the closure of the two firms, banned them from conducting commercial activities, and acquitted two other defendants in the case.
Prosecutors stated that the group operated an organised criminal network involved in laundering proceeds obtained through fraud, falsifying banking documents, carrying out unauthorised banking activities, transferring funds overseas through illegal channels, and disguising the source of the money.
Investigators said the defendants attracted victims through online advertisements promoting food products for sale, then directed them to bank payment links that charged amounts exceeding the agreed prices. The funds were allegedly used to purchase goods, which were later resold, with the proceeds converted into cash.
The investigation revealed that the group deposited the money into Kuwaiti bank accounts while disguising it as legitimate business income before transferring the funds to accounts in several foreign countries to conceal their alleged criminal source. Some defendants were also found guilty of falsifying details linked to bank deposit transactions.
