Britain arrests former head of Kuwait social security fund

Kuwaiti authorities said British authorities have arrested the former head of Kuwait’s social security fund, Fahad Al-Rajaan, who is convicted of corruption and embezzling public money.

A Kuwaiti court sentenced Al-Rajaan last year to a 10-year prison term in absentia and an international arrest warrant was issued.

The London police said in a statement:

Fahad Al-Rajaan, 68, a Kuwaiti national, appeared before Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, April 5, after being arrested on behalf of the authorities in Kuwait, where he is wanted in connection with allegations of fraud and theft.

Kuwait’s government signed an extradition treaty with the United Kingdom in 2016 but the parliaments of both countries have yet to ratify it.

Kuwaiti Attorney-General, Dharar Al-Assousi said:

The extradition of Al-Rajaan will be based on a special agreement signed between Kuwait and Britain, and his arrest warrant there was kept secret so he wouldn’t leave the country, and so we succeeded.

Al-Assousi said a Swiss judge had ordered in December 2014 that $100 million in 15 bank accounts belonging to Al-Rajaan be frozen, out of $390 million suspected to have been embezzled.

Al-Rajaan faced accusations including embezzlement of public funds, betrayal of public trust and money laundering relating to when he was the head of Kuwait’s Public Institution for Social Security (PIFSS).