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Kuwait City: Amid the preparations for the upcoming Kuwaiti parliamentary elections next month, several cases of votes purchasing were reported by the authorities.
The Public Prosecution has so far interrogated 12 suspects involved in two incidents of vote purchasing, 11 of whom were released with a bail of 1,000 Kuwaiti dinars (about Dh13,901) each.
The prosecutor decided late on Wednesday to extend the custody of the twelfth suspect for more interrogation, according to sources close to the case.
The Ministry of Interior affirmed in a statement issued on Monday to crack down on such crimes. The ministry has issued a statement earlier this week announcing the two cases of vote purchasing.
Local papers said the suspects were arrested late on Sunday while they were attempting to bribe electors to vote for two former MPs who are running in the electoral race.
According to Tuesday's issue of Kuwaiti paper Arab Times, the former MPs might face charges as interrogations proceed.
Local papers wrote on Tuesday that a case was reported to police by a female elector who claimed that women's committee of a candidate from the fifth electoral constituency has offered her a sum of 1,500 dinars to sell her vote. After cooperating with security men, the elector went on with the process, leading to the arrest of the entire committee of the candidate.
Another elector informed security forces of an attempt to purchase his vote by a candidate from the third constituency.
Following the report, security men arrested members of the candidate's men's committee.
Penalties
Interior Minister Shaikh Jaber Al Khalid Al Sabah warned all candidates against buying votes, asserting that all offenders will be held liable for criminal investigation.
Talking to the state-run agency Kuna, Al Sabah said the ministry does not target an individual by executing laws but rather "performs its duties according to the constitution and laws".
The Deputy Head of Fatwa and Legislative Committee Council, Faisal Al Sarawi, told local paper of Al Qabas that selling and buying votes is regarded as a crime of breaching honour.
Al Sarawi said both the candidate and elector who are guilty could be punished by up to a year in jail and a fine of 100 dinars.
"There is no law that prohibits a suspected candidate or elector from taking part in the elections, unless the court issues a final verdict. If convicted, the candidate's candidacy could be deleted, and the elector's vote would be regarded as invalid," he explained.
Laila Ali is a journalist based in Kuwait
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