A DNA sample, stored since 2017, recently helped Kuwaiti authorities uncover a major scam involving fake citizenship claims. According to a report by Al Rai newspaper, Kuwait exposed one of the biggest citizenship scams through genetic evidence kept for years.
Authorities became suspicious when a deceased man’s DNA sample didn’t match that of supposed family members holding Kuwaiti nationality. The forensic department originally took this DNA from the elderly Kuwaiti citizen before his death several years ago.
In-depth investigation soon revealed the shocking truth: the elderly man’s civil file had been illegally altered. A different man had been falsely added as his son, thereby becoming a Kuwaiti citizen unlawfully. From there, this individual registered numerous others as his own legitimate offspring, spreading fraudulent citizenship widely.
The man responsible for the scam fled Kuwait once suspicions arose, avoiding repeated calls by authorities for questioning. Nevertheless, investigators successfully apprehended his alleged sons, taking their DNA samples to compare with their supposed grandfather.
The forensic tests confirmed they were unrelated, exposing the fraud. Consequently, authorities expanded their investigation, discovering the scam included not just the false father, but also 34 fake children registered under his name.
Further inquiries dramatically increased the count of fraudulent citizenship claims connected to this single case. Authorities ultimately identified one of the biggest citizenship scams involving 96 fake citizens, all traced back to the original forged records.
Kuwait, home to roughly 4.9 million residents mostly expatriates, continues intensifying its crackdown on illegal nationality practices. Recently, the Kuwaiti government has taken strong actions against dual citizenship holders and fraudulent nationals to preserve national integrity.
With the exposure of one of the biggest citizenship scams via a simple DNA sample, Kuwait has reaffirmed its determination to eradicate citizenship fraud permanently.
