Victims forced to work as domestic helpers

KUWAIT: Anti-vice and human trafficking police arrested a gang that trafficked in people, led by a Ugandan national who brought women from Sierra Leone. According to investigations, the prime suspect (identified in the Interior Ministry's report by his initials 'S.M') smuggled the women to Guinea by land, making authorities there believe that they were heading to Senegal. They were then locked up for a week in Guinea, before being brought to Kuwait after receiving promises that they will work at prestigious hotels and restaurants and also as nurses with salaries ranging between KD 600 to KD 700 per month. But when they arrived in Kuwait, they were forced under threat to work as domestic helpers for KD 70-80. The main suspect was placed under surveillance to find out where he lived and where the domestic helpers were detained. A warrant was obtained and his residence was raided. The detained women were released, while airline tickets and bank transfer slips were confiscated.

Fire department roundup

Two men were injured when their vehicle flipped over following an accident. Nuwaiseeb fire center rushed to the scene and freed the two injured men (Asian nationals) and handed them to paramedics. Meanwhile, Nuwaiseeb Fire Center rescued a camel that fell in a septic hole at the camping area. Firemen used ropes and raised the camel from the bottom of the hole unharmed. Separately, Mishref fire center responded to an accident on Sixth Ring Road that trapped four expats in their vehicles. Firemen got the injured people out of the cars and handed them to paramedics. In another case, fire broke out in a Mubarak Al-Kabeer house, prompting Qurain center to respond. Trapped people were evacuated. They only suffered minor smoke inhalation. The fire was put out and losses were material only.

Vehicles impounded

The traffic department at the airport impounded 35 cars and issued 2,532 citations last month. The Interior Ministry's relations and security information department said that everyone must comply with the traffic law and not obstruct traffic flow, particularly at vital facilities. Meanwhile, Farwaniya municipality inspection team carried out a campaign in Ardiya during which 40 car rental offices were inspected. Eight undertakings were made, while 40 stickers were placed on cars left in open yards in order to remove them. Twenty warnings and 18 citations were issued for exceeding the areas allowed to be used.

By Hanan Al-Saadoun