Kuwait Issues Arrest Warrants for 15 People in 'Ya Hala Draws' Raffle Manipulation Case

Investigations uncovered evidence pointing to forgery, bribery and abuse of official positions.

Publish date: since hour Reading time: 1 min read

Kuwait Issues Arrest Warrants for 15 People in 'Ya Hala Draws' Raffle Manipulation Case

Kuwait’s Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for 15 men and women accused in the high-profile “Ya Hala Draws” scandal, ordering that all defendants be transferred to Central Jail pending trial, according to a report by Al Seyassah daily.

The case revolves around allegations of systematic manipulation of raffle draws linked to the Kuwait Shopping Festival (Ya Hala), which operates under the supervision of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Security reports first raised concerns over irregularities in the draws, leading to a joint investigation by criminal detectives and ministry officials.

Investigations uncovered evidence pointing to forgery, bribery and abuse of official positions, with prizes allegedly steered toward selected individuals in exchange for financial gains. Authorities reportedly identified a senior official in the raffle department, several collaborators, and an expatriate woman accused of receiving multiple vehicle prizes. She was arrested at Kuwait International Airport while attempting to leave the country.

Due to the sensitivity of the case and its potential impact on public trust in commercial promotions, the Public Prosecution had earlier ordered that investigations be conducted confidentially and imposed a ban on publishing case details until inquiries were completed.

The broader probe into raffle manipulation in Kuwait extends beyond the Ya Hala Draws, reportedly covering dozens of commercial raffles, high-value prizes, and multiple defendants. Those implicated now face serious charges, including bribery, forgery, money laundering, and embezzlement of public funds.

To read the full story for free, please enter your e-mail

Thank you for your subscription, you will receive our Newsletter shortly

Kuwait Issues Arrest Warrants for 15 People in 'Ya Hala Draws' Raffle Manipulation Case

Related articles