Lawmaker in hot pursuit of fugitive Kuwaiti MP

Manama : In a bid to ensure the arrest of a fugitive Kuwaiti MP, a Bahraini lawmaker has assigned two teams of attorneys in Geneva and London, where the controversial Kuwaiti parliamentarian is taking refuge.

Parliament’s Foreign Affairs, Defence and National Security Committee Member Jamal Buhassan said he’s awaiting copies of the arrest warrants, so the teams of legal representatives could follow up on the matter with the Interpol and the British and Swiss authorities.

As reported earlier, the Kuwaiti MP, Abdulhameed Dashti, is wanted to serve a jail term of two years in Bahrain for his involvement in illegal fundraising.

Speaking to DT News here yesterday, Buhassan said, “This man is a criminal and he serves the vicious Iranian ambitions in the region. He had repeatedly worked to sully the interests of the GCC countries.” 

He added: “Dashti was acquitted today (Wednesday) by the Criminal Court regarding his continuous hostility against Saudi Arabia. However, we request the British and the Swiss authorities to cooperate, apprehend and deliver this criminal so he can get what he deserves for his treachery of the Arab and Islamic nations.”

Moreover, a prison term of more than 25 years also awaits Dashti in Kuwait, after he was sentenced by Kuwaiti courts in July to 11 years and six months for insulting Saudi Arabia and three years for insulting Bahrain.

Besides, he was sentenced to serve another 11 years of imprisonment in Kuwaiti jails last Thursday for insulting UAE’s ruler and Saudi Arabia once again. Another ruling against him is scheduled on October 10.

An arrest warrant was issued against Dashti by the Bahraini Public Prosecution last December and was circulated through the Interpol. The Kuwaiti Government did the same in August.

As earlier reported by DT News, Dashti has been travelling back and forth from the two European capitals using a Syrian passport, a copy of which was published by DT News.

He didn’t return to Kuwait since March, when the Kuwaiti National Assembly (Parliament) revoked his parliamentary immunity, so he could appear before courts in multiple national security and criminal cases.

Buhassan, who was assaulted by Dashti for opposing his opinions at an international event in Geneva last September, has been chasing the latter in Kuwaiti courts since then.

Dashti has raised wide controversy in the GCC region for his continuous support to terrorist organisations, such as Hezbollah in Lebanon and Iraq, and his loyalty to the infamous “turbans regime” in Iran and its agenda in the region. 

His proximity to the Syrian President, Bashar Al Assad, also affected his reputation among the people of the Arabian Gulf.