KUWAIT: First Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef Al-Sabah issued a decision on Sunday granting special civil IDs for foreign property owners and investors in Kuwait. The decision states that the IDs for the two categories will carry electronic chips. It states that the ID for property owners will be valid for 10 years and the one for investors will be valid for 15 years, which is similar to the duration of their residence permits. Both are renewable. The decision also states that the head of the Public Authority for Civil Information has the powers to change some of the rules governing the two ID types.
Nazaha targets embezzlers
Kuwait Anti-Corruption Authority (Nazaha) said on Sunday that it referred a supervisor and others employed with the ministry of public works to the public prosecution over suspected graft. Nazaha said in a statement that the suspects will be investigated for suspected forgery, embezzlement and facilitating the embezzlement of public funds. This is the first referral by Nazaha in the new year, but it had referred hundreds of officials and former officials to the public prosecution for failing to abide by the law requiring them to submit disclosures of their private wealth while assuming their posts and after leaving.
Health insurance disputes
Health Minister Dr Ahmad Al-Awadhi issued a decision on Sunday ordering forming a special commission to look into disputes regarding private and government health insurance for expatriates. Expats under the health insurance scheme can submit complaints to the commission regarding their health insurance problems and the commission will look into those disputes.
Health insurance is mandatory for obtaining and renewing residence permits for expats. On Dec 23, the government doubled and even more than tripled the amount of the government health insurance for expats, setting it to KD 100 per year for all categories. The fee entails expats to seek treatment at public health facilities but they are also required to pay extra charges for certain medical services like radiology and surgeries.
