Kuwait Refers 73 Suspects to Court Over Multi-Million Dollar Fraud in Raffle Draws

Authorities in Kuwait have formally referred 73 suspects to criminal court in connection with an ambitious fraud scheme involving government-supervised raffle draws.

The country’s Public Prosecution announced the development on Wednesday, October 29, saying the case centres on manipulated raffles, bribery, forgery and money-laundering. 

According to the official statement released via state-run news agency KUNA, the investigation uncovered a “highly organised criminal network” that orchestrated the manipulation of some 110 raffle draws carried out under the supervision of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry – Kuwait between 2021 and 2025. The total alleged theft amounts to more than 1.24 million Kuwaiti dinars (approximately US $4 million) in prizes that included vehicles, cash and other awards. 

Prosecutors say the scheme was far from ad-hoc: roles were assigned, planning was detailed, and the intention to deceive was clear. “The individuals involved aimed to illegally obtain raffle prizes through fraudulent means, violating the principles of fairness and transparency that underpin public draws,” the statement reads. The illicit gains were then reinvested via multiple financial transactions designed to conceal their origin and evade legal oversight. 

The fraud first came to light in March this year after a video surfaced on social media, showing a man allegedly manipulating the draw of a high-profile raffle supervised by the ministry. That prompted the Public Prosecution to order the arrest of one Kuwaiti citizen and five foreign residents on March 27.

Among those detained were reportedly an Egyptian national and her husband, winners of multiple prizes—including seven vehicles—who attempted to leave the country. 

In response to the investigation, authorities moved to confiscate cash and other assets associated with the suspects. The scale of the case, spanning multiple years and involving extensive planning, has drawn attention to the oversight mechanisms around public raffle draws and the vulnerability of such programmes to manipulation.

Analysts say this case could trigger stronger regulatory and auditing practices for raffle draws and prize-based promotions in Kuwait, especially when public or semi-public organisations are involved. The referral of 73 suspects to court signals the intensity of the crackdown and may serve as a deterrent to similar schemes.

For the general public and companies participating in government-supervised promotions, the message is clear: transparency and integrity in prize-draw operations are under closer scrutiny than ever. With the legal process now underway, the court hearings will provide further detail on the network’s structure, the roles of individual suspects, and the fate of the misappropriated funds.