Over 1,400 Kerala nurses accused of defrauding a Kuwaiti bank of 26 million dinars

KUWAIT CITY, Dec 8: In a major case of financial fraud, over 1,400 nurses from Kerala are accused of defrauding a Kuwaiti bank of nearly 26.32 million Kuwaiti dinars (KWD) before leaving the Gulf country, according to Indian newspaper reports. The nurses, employed by the Kuwaiti Ministry of Health, allegedly secured large loans from Gulf Bank, defaulted and then migrated to countries such as Canada, Australia and Europe.

Gulf Bank filed a complaint through Deputy Managing Director Mohammed Abdul Vassey, which led to the registration of cases against ten people in Kerala. The accused are charged under Sections 420 (cheating) and 406 (criminal breach of trust) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Complaints have been lodged at various police stations including Kalamassery, Njarackal, Kalady, Muvattupuzha and Kumarakom.

Although the fraud took place in Kuwait, Indian law allows prosecution if the accused are Indian nationals. Legal experts clarified that action can be taken under Section 188 of the Criminal Procedure Code, which deals with offenses committed abroad by Indian nationals. The Kerala police have started their investigation, recording the statements of some of the accused and working with Gulf Bank officials for more details.

Preliminary investigations suggest that the nurses took advantage of their stable employment to obtain large loans, which they intended to default on before leaving the country. Sources revealed that the agencies that initially helped the nurses secure jobs and loans were involved in their financial dealings. After building their credit scores, the nurses independently secured loans of up to KWD 11,278 before fleeing.

First Information Reports (FIRs) filed in Kerala indicate significant loan defaults. One accused is said to have failed to pay KWD 4,699, while others owe between KWD 2,368 and KWD 4,586. Cases have been registered in police stations in Ernakulam and other areas of Kerala.

The scale of the fraud has raised concerns about possible international legal action, including the potential repatriation of the accused or sanctions under global banking laws. Under Indian law, charges of cheating (section 420 IPC) carry a maximum sentence of seven years’ imprisonment and a fine, while criminal breach of trust (section 406 IPC) carry a maximum sentence of three years’ imprisonment, a fine or both. .

This case is part of a wider pattern of financial fraud involving Keralites in Gulf countries including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Oman. Reports indicate that hundreds of similar cases have taken place in recent years, with many of the accused either returning to Kerala or fleeing to Western countries.

Authorities continue to focus on ensuring accountability and cooperating with international legal frameworks to address the issue comprehensively.