470 loan defaulters freed with help of Fak Kurbah drive

Times News Service

MUSCAT: Some 470 people were released from jail before the Eid Al Fitr holiday thanks to the “Fak Kurbah” initiative launched by the Oman Lawyers’ Association (OLA).

Asa’d Al Hadrami, a lawyer and member of OLA, told the Times of Oman that 470 loan defaulters were released and spent their Eid Al Fitr holiday with their families.

“Also, 50 more prisoners will be released soon,” he said.

Last Monday, 190 people were released due to the Bank Muscat initiative from the flagship financial services provider, which secured the release of citizens and residents serving prison sentences for their failure to clear financial debts. None of these cases relate to payments involving banks or financing firms.

The initiative was launched on May 12. Two weeks ago, 53 people were released from jail in several wilayats of Oman, thanks to the Fak Kurbah programme. On May 19, a good Samaritan, who declined to be identified, helped pay for the release of 30 persons in the Dhahirah governorate courts.

The campaign, dubbed Fak Kurbah (Redeeming Anguish), was launched by the Oman Lawyers’ Association in 2012 and has been embraced by both Omanis and expats.

The programme helps raise funds to pay off debts in insolvency cases in which people have been jailed. Now in its fifth year, the initiative kicked off last week with the release of a prisoner in Shinas, following the donation of OMR5,000 by women living in Dhofar.