Sheikh Ahmad's criminal conviction: back to Lausanne
Sheikh Ahmad Al-Sabah, the long-time associate of IOC president Thomas Bach, loses both his ministerial post in Kuwait and also in the appeal proceedings against his prison sentence in Switzerland – but his penalty is reduced.
One of the biggest criminal stories in Olympic sport has taken another turn. There is fresh news about a man who was once the most powerful string-puller in the Olympic family: Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah from Kuwait.
In the course of the government reshuffle by the new Emir Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah and prime minister Mohammad Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, Sheikh Ahmad lost his roles as defense minister and deputy prime minister a few days ago, which he had only taken up six months ago.
It now became known that on 28 December 2023, the Geneva criminal justice system confirmed his 2021 conviction in Switzerland in appeal proceedings.
However, the sentence was reduced and suspended. In September 2021, the Sheikh was sentenced to 14 months in prison for serious fraud and forgery, with a further 15 months suspended.
In the appeal proceedings, his sentence has now been reduced to two years' probation.
It is assumed that the Sheikh will also appeal against the latest judgement. This new appeal would then be heard by the Federal Court in the Capitale Olympique Lausanne - funnily enough, the Federal Court is only 100 metres away, as the crow flies, from the headquarters of World Aquatics, formerly FINA, one of the international sports federations that Sheikh Ahmad wielded unelected power over for many years.
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Jens Weinreich
