Saudi Man Jailed in Kuwait for Faking Citizenship to Join Defence Ministry

A Saudi citizen has been sentenced to seven years in prison with hard labor and fined 336,000 Kuwaiti dinars (Dh4 million) by a Kuwaiti criminal court after being convicted of forging a naturalization application to unlawfully acquire Kuwaiti citizenship and secure a position in the Ministry of Defence.

Details of the Forgery and Arrest

The unidentified man falsely claimed to be the biological son of a Kuwaiti citizen — a lie that enabled him to obtain Kuwaiti nationality and be appointed as a sergeant in the Defence Ministry. The Kuwaiti man who assisted in this deception was also convicted.

Authorities arrested the Saudi citizen at the Salmi border crossing while he was attempting to flee the country. During the arrest, he was found in possession of both a Saudi ID and a Kuwaiti civil ID, raising suspicions that led to a deeper investigation.

Motives Behind the Crime

Investigations later revealed that the Saudi individual was trying to escape from serious financial burdens, including unpaid bank loans and obligations in his home country. This provided a motive for his attempt to start a new life under a false identity in Kuwait.

Additional Convictions and Court Remarks

The court also handed down a seven-year sentence to the Kuwaiti citizen who aided in the fraudulent scheme, along with the Saudi man's biological father, who was found complicit in the forged identity claim.

In its ruling, the court emphasized the severity of the crime, describing it as a blatant attack on national identity and an illegal manipulation of official documents that undermines the sovereignty and security of the state.