The Criminal Court on Wednesday acquitted all defendants charged in a bribery case involving the electricity sector, judicial authorities reported. Prosecutors had relied heavily on a set of WhatsApp messages that appeared to suggest improper payments for official services. The court concluded that the digital communications, although suspicious, failed to establish the necessary elements of a bribery offense. Investigators had uncovered the messages during a probe into alleged corrupt practices at the Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy. The defendants included ministry employees and private individuals accused of participating in the scheme. Following a thorough review of all presented evidence and witness statements, the judges determined that reasonable doubt remained in each case.
Kuwait’s Public Authority for Anti-Corruption has documented a steady stream of complaints related to the electricity and water sectors over the past five years, authority figures show. In its latest report, the body indicated that such cases often involve facilitation fees for meter installations or connection approvals. The acquittal serves as a reminder of the challenges in translating preliminary suspicions into successful prosecutions.
The Ministry of Electricity has implemented new digital systems to minimize direct interactions between staff and applicants in an effort to curb potential bribery, a ministry statement from earlier this year said. These reforms have reportedly reduced the number of related incidents by streamlining service requests through online platforms. Officials continue to train personnel on ethical standards and anti-corruption protocols as part of ongoing preventive measures.
According to Transparency International data, Kuwait scored 43 on the 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index, an improvement of two points from the previous year but still indicating room for stronger enforcement. Regional comparisons place the country ahead of several neighbors in the Gulf on governance metrics compiled by the World Bank. The electricity bribery trial drew attention due to the use of modern communication records as primary evidence.
Legal experts have called for clearer guidelines on the admissibility and weighting of instant messaging evidence in corruption trials, based on precedents set by higher courts. The prosecution now has 30 days to consider an appeal of the acquittals, court procedures indicate. This case adds to a series of high-profile rulings that have tested the boundaries of digital forensics in Kuwait’s justice system.
The State Audit Bureau has previously flagged vulnerabilities in public utility contracting that can enable bribery, according to its annual oversight summaries. In response the government has expanded audits of electricity service delivery across multiple governorates. Such measures aim to reinforce accountability without disrupting essential infrastructure operations.
