Judicial principle — Kuwait Court of Cassation

Kuwait Court of Cassation principle number 663

State of Kuwait · Penal Law · Ministry of Justice — Court of Cassation — Technical Office

English translation of the principle

There is no scope for examining the question of intention in offences of defamation and insult once criminal intent therein is established. Unless the attack is directed at a public official, in which case the accused must prove his good faith, that he seeks to defend a public interest, and that what he attributed to the official is true. Punishment is mandatory if the purpose of the attack is vilification and disparagement. - The court's lack of conviction as to the appellant's good faith in the attack and his inability to demonstrate the truth of what he attributed to the victim. His challenge to the judgment in this regard is unfounded.
Arabic original
لا محل للبحث في مسألة النية في جرائم القذف والسب متى تحقق القصد الجنائي فيها. إلا إذا كان الطعن موجهاً إلى موظف عام فيتعين أن يثبت المتهم سلامة نيته وأنه يبغي الدفاع عن مصلحة عامة وأن ما أسنده إلى الموظف حقيقياً. وجوب العقاب إذا كان القصد من الطعن التشهير والتجريح. - عدم اقتناع المحكمة بسلامة نية الطاعن في الطعن وعدم استطاعته التدليل على حقيقة ما أسنده للمجني عليه. نعيه على الحكم في هذا الخصوص غير سديد.
Original Arabic judgment citations

(الطعن ٢٤٨/٢٠٠٦ جزائي جلسة ٢١/١١/٢٠٠٦ القسم الخامس المجلد الثالث عشر ص٦٧٥)

Source: Court of Cassation legal principles collection — Penal Law — Ministry of Justice — Court of Cassation — Technical Office. Printed page 188. PDF pages: 185.

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