‘Fak Kurba’ helps free 460 financial offenders

OLA had started raising funds for the release of prisoners since beginning of the holy month. The initiative has been backed by Bank Muscat

In a humanitarian gesture, 460 citizens and expatriates serving jail terms or facing charges for minor financial offences, have been freed, enabling them to celebrate Eid al Fitr with their loved ones, thanks to the ‘Fak Kurba’ initiative by the Omani Lawyers Association (OLA).

The initiative has been backed by Bank Muscat.

“We have managed to secure the release of 460 people caught for minor financial offences as part of our ‘Fak Kurba’ initiative that seeks to alleviate the sufferings of families in the Sultanate,” Dr Mohammed Ibrahim al Zadjali, Head of Omani Lawyers Association and a member of Majlis Ash’shura, told the Observer.

“We will continue this initiative even after the holy month of Ramadhan,” said Al Zadjali.

OLA had started raising funds for the release of prisoners since beginning of the holy month. Out of the released prisoners, 56 are from North Al Batinah and 46 from the capital city, Dakhiliyah(38), Dhofar (23), Sharqiyah (39), Buraimi (17), Al Wusta (15) and South Al Batinah (7).

“This is part of our CSR (corporate social responsibility) initiative, where we carry out a number of projects during the holy month and beyond,” said Abdul Razak Ali Issa, Chief Executive of Bank Muscat, after handing over a cheque for the initiative.

“We would like to thank the Omani Lawyers Association for having facilitated this with support from private companies,” Issa said, adding this is in addition to the Kuloob Bank Muscat (Bank Muscat Hearts), another fund backed by the staff of the bank for various social projects.