ShareKUWAIT: Privately-employed foreign residents, who have exceeded their permitted stay in Kuwait beyond January 3, 2016 after going absent from work, will be allowed to settle their penalties or leave the country without paying a fine, the Interior Ministry said on Friday.
The decision was taken according to a "humanitarian initiative," which covers a further number of non-Kuwaiti violators of the residency law, read a ministry statement. It will grant more "humanitarian incentives," namely the opportunity for violators who wish to remain in the country to "amend their status" after the ministry sought the necessary approvals from its General Directorate of Investigation and the Public Authority of Manpower.
Applications are welcome for those wishing to settle their outstanding dues as of next week until April 22, providing employers drop their legal charges against the absent employee. Those who fall under this category should initially visit the General Authority of Manpower's Department of Labor Relations in order to terminate the absence charges brought against them.
Afterwards, they should head to the Ministry of Interior's Residency Affairs Department in their relevant governorate to settle their fines. The ministry went to urge those found in violation to grasp the opportunity granted by the initiative, and to do so with haste.
Smuggling foiled
Shuwaikh Port customs officers found 3,000 liquor bottles in a container, then an hour later, discovered another container with 5,208 bottles. Shuwaikh customs officers had suspicions over a container that arrived from a Gulf country with its load recorded as lumber. When the lumber was unloaded, a scan revealed the liquor stash. Then the second container was searched and the liquor was found.
Vehicle found
A vehicle that belongs to a person reported missing was found near the Subbiya coastline, Kuwait Fire Services Directorate (KFSD) said. An intensive search by marine fire, backup, coastguard and interior minister choppers resulted in finding the vehicle in waters near the coast, but the driver was not found, KFSD public relations department said in a statement. Search will continue until the missing man is found, the department added.
Deliveryman robbed
Jahra detectives are looking for five suspects who robbed a restaurant deliveryman and burned his motorcycle in Jahra. A security source said the incident took place in Naeem after the Egyptian man delivered a meal. He was held up by five unidentified persons, then two of them took the motorcycle aside and set it ablaze.
Farm fire
Firemen battled a blaze at a Wafra farm, which the owner had turned into a foam and wood warehouse. Wafra, Nuwaiseeb, backup and Fahaheel fire centers responded to a call and found the fire had destroyed a quantity of foam, fertilizer and boxes used for packing produce. No injuries were reported.
Drug possession
Police arrested four persons of different nationalities with possession of illicit substances in Hawally. Police suspected a car with four persons in it who looked abnormal, so they were asked to leave the car, which was searched and drugs were found. All four were sent to the Drugs Control General Department.
Doctor assaulted
An army officer insulted and beat a dentist at a medical center. The officer started a verbal exchange with the doctor, who left the clinic and claimed he was attacked by the officer. The officer said the doctor caused him severe pain while examining him and made him nervous.
By Hanan Al-Saadoun and Agencies
