Kuwait’s National Assembly questioned Finance Minister Nayef Al-Hajraf over his performance and suspected financial violations, especially those involving his personally-owned companies and institutions.
MPs Bader Al-Mulla and Riad Al-Adsani took to the two sides of the stand, kicking off the interrogation session over alleged irregularities in the minister's performance.
The Finance Ministry or the Kuwait Investment Authority, the country’s sovereign wealth fund, and other institutions under the ministry are facing embezzlement charges with at least seven counts whereby billions of dollars were lost either in bad investment decisions or through mismanagement and wrongdoing.
Towards the end of the session, the parliament’s Finance Committee was charged with investigating allegations facing the minister and submitting its report within three months.
Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanim, after concluding the hours-long session, confirmed that the finance minister survived a confidence vote.
Government Spokesman Tareq Al-Marzam reaffirmed that government-parliament ties are built on mutual respect despite differences in opinions.
He also refuted all media claims that suggested Kuwaiti lawmakers were threatened ahead of the grilling sessions, saying they were all baseless.
Defending himself, Financial Minister Hajraf said more than 95 percent of the issues raised in the grilling was from long before he became a minister, which meant that raising these issues involved a constitutional violation.
He added that the state’s finances and investments have improved, saying that this will be put to display when the country’s financial status is discussed at the Assembly.
MP Al-Adsani, for his part, had stressed the importance of his interpellation motion against Hajraf as it addressed complicated issues such as violations and legal guidelines on the State Budget and Final Accounts Law.
Adasani also said hundreds of millions of dinars were lost by the social security institution by not taking timely action against its former managing director who fled the country, claiming the ministry has not taken proper legal action against him.
He highlighted a corruption case in port investments, alleging an organized gang was stealing public funds through some fake companies, charging that some overseas interference has taken place to protect those involved.
Adasani also said some millions were lost by the Touristic Enterprises Co.
