Kuwait Court of Cassation principle number 79

Articles 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 of the Criminal Procedure and Trials Law prescribe the methods to be followed in serving documents in criminal matters, including the summons to attend the trial hearing. - The accused must be served personally, or a copy of the notice must be delivered to one of the accused's adult male relatives residing with the accused if the accused is not present at the place of residence; where the domicile is unknown, a copy of the notice is delivered to the Public Prosecution. This method: an exception resorted to only after sufficient inquiries have been made to ascertain the domicile of the person to be served. Contravention thereof: invalidity. - Before determining the action in the accused's absence, the court must verify the validity of service. Contravention thereof: its ruling is based on invalid proceedings that affected the judgment. Its effect: the time limit for appeal does not begin until the day on which the appellant obtains official knowledge of its issuance.