Kuwait’s ex-PM snubs probe in graft case

Kuwait’s ex-premier Sheikh Nasser Mohammad al-Ahmad al-Sabah refused to appear before a parliamentary panel probing alleged graft against him, saying the summons issued to him were illegal. In a letter, a copy of which was seen by AFP Tuesday, Sheikh Nasser said the parliamentary panel had no authority to summon a former prime minister as it could only question ministers and government employees. Sheikh Nasser, a senior member of the Gulf state’s ruling family, also said he had been cleared by a special judicial tribunal which decided Thursday to end its inquiry into the case, citing a lack of evidence. He was supposed to have appeared before the parliamentary probe Monday. Sheikh Nasser is accused by the opposition of transferring millions of dollars of public funds into his overseas bank accounts. He has categorically denied the allegations, saying “all the transfers were in the service of the interests of Kuwait and contained no personal benefit.” Opposition MP Faisal al-Muslim, head of the parliamentary panel told reporters the committee had not accepted Sheikh Nasser’s refusal to attend and had issued new summons for May 26. Last week, the panel questioned Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Mubarak al-Sabah who promised the government would cooperate with the probe. Although the judicial tribunal ended the inquiry, the graft allegations are still being investigated independently by the parliamentary probe panel formed in March and the Audit Bureau, the state accounting watchdog. Sheikh Nasser resigned on Nov. 28 under pressure from youth-led street protests which intensified after allegations of corruption were made against him in August and September last year. That was followed by dissolving the parliament and holding snap polls in which the opposition scored an impressive victory. Kuwait’s parliament is also investigating charges that an estimated $350 million were deposited into the bank accounts of 13 ex-MPs which the opposition says were political bribes implicating the previous government.