KUWAIT: This handout photo released by the Interior Ministry yesterday shows domestic helpers being escorted to the Residency Affairs General Department’s building following their arrest for breaking residency and labor regulations

KUWAIT: More than 2,000 domestic workers were deported following their arrest in crackdowns against domestic help offices carried out in the past 10 months, an Interior Ministry official announced yesterday.

All detainees were arrested on absconding charges and violating labor regulations by seeking jobs with other employers than their original recruiter, Director General of the Residency Affairs General Department Major General Talal Maarafi said. Authorities carried out 1,387 crackdowns from January 1, 2016 to October 31, 2016, during which 2,048 maids were arrested, including 248 from Zimbabwe alone. All of the maids arrested were later deported through Kuwait International Airport, he said.

Meanwhile, Maarafi revealed that residency detectives launched inspection campaigns in Ahmadi and Hawally recently, resulting in issuing 13 citations against domestic help offices for violating expats' residency law no 17/59 and domestic helpers' law 68/2016, in addition to arresting four domestic helpers reported absconding, while 25 domestic helpers who were sent to the shelter. Their sponsors are being summoned for questioning.

Scam

In other news, Hawally detectives arrested a man on swindling charges after he collecting money from people as rents for nonexistent apartments. Investigations had went underway after several people filed identical complaints, in which they said that they paid advanced payments to a man who advertised for apartments for rent on social media. The suspect was identified as a 34-year-old unemployed Kuwaiti man, and later arrested in an ambush. He pleaded guilty to charges during interrogation after being confronted with evidence, then sent to the proper authorities to face legal action.

Drills

The Interior Ministry's relations and security media department announced that the coast guards' marine formations are scheduled to conduct live ammunition drills in territorial waters in the period of November 6-8, 2016. The drill will be held from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm on those days in Garouh and Um Al-Maradem islands, in the following coordinates:  Site 1: 048.37.5"E and 28.55.0"N. Site 2: 048.30.2"E and 28.46.8"N. Accordingly, and for public safety reasons, the department urged all sea-goers, fishermen and sailors to stay off the locations mentioned above during the drills.

By Hanan Al-Saadoun