Court Transfer to the Central Prison Hospital at the Request of Attorney Khalid Al-Shatti
The Lawyer Argues While the Defendant Lies on the Bed
The Kuwaiti judiciary witnessed a first-of-its-kind precedent yesterday when a judicial panel from the Criminal Court, headed by Abdul Salam Al-Baijan, transferred to the Central Prison to hear the case of the defendant (A.D.), a Pakistani national hospitalized in the prison infirmary, who faced charges of drug possession. Attorney Khalid Al-Shatti had requested the Criminal Court to move to the Central Prison and submitted a medical report stating that his client (the defendant) suffers from chronic kidney failure due to kidney fibrosis and acute blood infection, requiring dialysis three times a week, making it impossible for him to attend the trial session. It is noted that criminal procedure law prohibits the defense from arguing a criminal case without the defendant’s presence. The court panel moved to the prison to hear the statements of both the defendant and his lawyer, while Al-Shatti presented his arguments from the prison hospital, with the defendant lying on the bed. The lawyer requested the court to acquit the defendant of the charges and to exercise leniency and mercy due to his health condition. The court reserved judgment for the 19th of this month.
Criminal Court Acquits Defendant Whose Case Was Heard in Prison
Due to his kidney failure
Criminal Court Acquits Defendant Whose Case Was Heard in Prison
Yesterday afternoon, the Criminal Court acquitted a Pakistani national named (G.D.), who was accused of importing 50 grams of heroin for trafficking. A judicial panel went to the Central Prison to hear his lawyer’s defense, in accordance with the provisions of the Criminal Procedure Law.
The Criminal Court, headed by Justice Abdul Salam Al-Baijan, visited the defendant in prison on the 12th of this month, as reported by Al-Watan, following a request from the defendant’s lawyer, Khalid Al-Shatti. He submitted a medical report stating that the defendant suffers from kidney failure and high blood pressure. Although a kidney transplant had been performed in his home country, it was unsuccessful, and he requires dialysis for four hours, three times a week, making it difficult to transfer him from the hospital. Consequently, the judicial panel went to the prison hospital, where they heard the defense while the defendant lay on his bed.
Attorney Khalid Al-Shatti, in a phone call with Al-Watan, highlighted the ruling, emphasizing that it reinforces the fairness and integrity of the esteemed Kuwaiti judiciary.