DOHA (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 05th May, 2019) An appeals court in Kuwait ruled on Sunday to release Russian citizen Maria Lazareva, sentenced for 10 years in prison on embezzlement charges, on bail of 20 million Kuwaiti dinars ($65.7 million), thus supporting the appeal of her defense.
Lazareva, along with other suspects, was arrested in November 2017 on charges of stealing funds that the Kuwait Port Authority placed in an investment fund managed by KGL Investment (KGLI) company, where Lazareva served as vice-president and managing director. Meanwhile, the defense stressed that KGLI was providing consultancy services to the Kuwait Port Authority in exchange for payments stipulated in a written agreement. Lazareva was released on bail of $30 million in February 2018 and sentenced to 10 years in prison in May 2018. Her international defense team promptly appealed the decision.
"The court ordered to release the accused, or they will continue to be held in custody of this case, while banning them from traveling, if the third defendant [Lazareva] pays a financial guarantee of KD [Kuwaiti dinar] 20 million," the court ruling read.
As the court revoked the appealed verdict issued on May 6, 2018, it scheduled a new hearing for June 9 in order to "review the subject and hear the pleading."
The Moscow Chamber of Commerce and Industry has repeatedly cited violations that the Kuwaiti court has committed in Lazareva's case, namely, by banning her defense from questioning witnesses and by distorting the defense's testimony in protocols of the hearings.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said following his visit to Kuwait in March that he had discussed the situation around Lazareva with local authorities and had asked his Kuwaiti counterpart to secure her rights.
