(MENAFN - Arab Times) "I was instructed by HH the Amir, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, to apply the law on everyone equally, big or small.
This is the reason why all spectrums within the National Assembly have observations on the work of the Interior Minister and his ministry," stated Interior Minister, Sheikh Ahmad Al-Humoud Al-Sabah, on Monday.
He assured that the ministry "does not use its powers arbitrarily and applies the law through the investigations department and the Public Prosecution by taking permission before making any arrests or detentions."
The minister was speaking to the press following a meeting with the Parliament's Interior and Defense Committee. The meeting discussed the recent arrests by the Interior Ministry and a proposal that seeks to reduce the pre-trial detention period. Sheikh Ahmad Al-Humoud disclosed he had given the committee his statements in that regard.
"We will continue our responsibilities towards both Kuwait's citizens and expatriates. God Almighty has blessed Kuwait with security and safety and we hope He gives us the ability to safeguard the country and hand it over to the next generation in the best condition," he stressed.
On his part, Chairman of the Interior and Defense Committee MP Nayef Al-Mirdas disclosed that the Interior Minister assured the meeting there were no arrests made but that the suspects were identified and brought in by the MoI. This is by orders from the prosecution or after investigations or an attested crime.
Al-Mirdas added that the meeting further discussed the murder of Kuwaiti citizen Mohammed Al-Maimouni and the fatal accident of Mahmoud Al-Banai. "The minister informed that investigative committees were created and a number of officers were suspended or were transferred to other sectors," he said.
Budget
Sheikh Ahmad Al-Humoud also requested the Financial Affairs Committee to help provide an effective budget so that a security system, at marine and land borders and within the sectors belonging to the Interior Ministry, may be implemented.
"We've also discussed with the minister the case of pre-trial detention and he disapproved setting only one day as the detention period because it is not enough to complete investigations. An agreeable period between the committee and the minister was not set as of yet," Al-Mirdas concluded.
Meanwhile, MP Jamaan Al-Harbash said on Monday the Majority Bloc's Coordination Committee met with Islamist MP Mohammed Hayef and the Justice Bloc to discuss their intended grilling request against Awqaf Minister Jamal Al-Shihab. He said that the majority believe the interpellation's three proponents are worthy and that the committee will invite the Awqaf Minister to discuss the demands before the grilling is submitted.
In other news, MP Mohammed Hayef urged the government to find quick solutions that will provide the country with food security and curb the rising prices of commodities. He said the government has cut its feed support to shepherds, which in turn will inflate the prices of meat.
On his part, MP Riyadh Al-Adsani added that Kuwait is the leading country in the GCC pertaining to inflation during this period; therefore the government must balance inflation with viable salary and allowance increases.
Meanwhile, Chairman of the Public Funds Protection Committee MP Musallam Al-Barrak disclosed that the committee has met with head of the Crown Prince Diwan Sheikh Mubarak Al-Faisal. The meeting, he said, discussed violations in the diwan pertaining to financing the travels of Kuwait's Supreme Committee of the Ideal Mother, which is chaired by Sheikha Fareeha Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah.
Al-Barrak said that KD 151,000 was given to the Ideal Mother traveling delegations in November 2007 unjustly but were not returned. He said Sheikh Mubarak Al-Faisal vowed to provide the committee with documents that prove the amount was returned to the diwan in one week.
