The Criminal Court handed down the one-year prison term after determining that the defendant had employed a forged power of attorney to carry out the fraudulent activity. Judicial officials confirmed the ruling followed a full review of evidence linking the fake document directly to the swindle. The case forms part of a series of fraud prosecutions that have moved through the court system in recent months.
Kuwaiti Penal Code provisions set the penalty for fraud involving deception or forged instruments at up to three years in prison and a fine not exceeding 3 000 dinars according to a legal analysis published by criminal law practitioners in the country. The one-year sentence in this matter reflects the court’s assessment of the specific elements presented during trial. A separate review of power of attorney regulations notes that any use of a falsified version constitutes forgery and triggers both criminal and civil liability.
Local media outlets have reported a rise in fraud cases across Kuwait in the past year with real-estate scams and phantom investment schemes heading the list according to a well-informed source quoted by Al Qabas newspaper. Authorities have issued repeated warnings to residents to verify all legal documents including powers of attorney through the Ministry of Justice before proceeding with transactions. The latest verdict adds to the public record of convictions intended to deter similar offenses.
The Directorate of Public Prosecution pursued the matter after receiving a complaint that led investigators to confirm with the named lawyer that no genuine power of attorney had been issued. Court procedures required authentication of the disputed document which ultimately proved invalid under official records. This verification step formed the cornerstone of the prosecution’s case.
Legal guides prepared by Kuwaiti attorneys stress that powers of attorney must be properly registered and cannot extend to certain personal acts such as marriage or testimony. Agents operating under such documents face strict accountability for any breach of trust or unauthorized financial gain. Civil claims for restitution often accompany the criminal penalties in these matters.
Kuwait’s courts have issued multiple sentences in comparable fraud and forgery trials over the past 12 months ranging from fines to multi-year imprisonment terms in larger schemes. A 2025 case involving a lawyer convicted of real-estate fraud resulted in a 10-year term and repayment orders totaling millions of dinars Gulf News reported citing local court announcements. Such outcomes underscore the judiciary’s consistent approach to these violations.
