Conference discusses legal remedies for cyber crimes

HOT ISSUE: Experts call for legal community’s preparedness to look into all aspects of IT generated offences

Legal experts raised the issue of cyber crime and called for the legal community’s preparedness to look into all aspects of IT generated offences in the wake of many such cases being reported involving wide range of sectors.

A large number of practicing lawyers, prosecutors and judicial officers gathered in Salalah on Monday to discuss wide range of issues arising out of cyber crime. They sought active participation of the community to understand the basic tenets of the crime and remedies being offered by the Omani law.

Organised by the Omani Lawyers Association, the event opened under the auspices of Sayyid Mohammed bin Sultan bin Hamoud al Busaidy, Minister of State and Governor of Dhofar, in presence of hundred plus delegates from the legal community at Hilton Salalah Resort.

According to Kamal Mohammed al Lawati, Board Member of the Omani Lawyers Association, the event served as a follow up to cyber crime workshops done earlier to enable lawyers to assist their clients from lodging the complaint up to judgment level.

“The event has been spanned into one-week programme — two days for discussion on legal issues related to cyber crime and three days into participation at the Salalah Tourism Festival, where the Association members would give free legal aid to the visitors,” he said.

On the first day six expert papers were presented in two sessions presided over by Abdul Qadir Salim al Dahab, Head of Legal Affairs in State Council , and Dr Hamed al Jahwari, Head of Appeal Court respectively.

Nasr Assawai gave a presentation on procedures of cyber crime from its inception, complaint reporting to judgement, while Dr Hussain al Ghafri spoke on laws dealing with cyber crime.

Nasra al Habsiya of Consumer Protection spoke about the rule of regulators in protecting the interest of the consumers in the event of small offences.

Telecom expert Sulaiman al Gaithi put stress on the role of the arbitrator and advised to solve the disputes through arbitration.

Hatim al Barami, Administrative Court Judge at Salalah Court, prepared a draft map for the lawyers and gave an outline on how to write and make agreements.