BREAKING LOCKDOWN RULES? HEFTY FINE, JAIL AWAIT YOU
Fines range from OMR100 to OMR3,500 in addition to possible time in jail
MUSCAT: People violating the rules of the lockdown could face fines of up to OMR3,500, as well as possible jail time.
In an interview to Times TV, Major Mudhar Al Mazrui of the Royal Oman Police, said, “Regarding the fines, they start from OMR100 for not wearing masks, which might reach up to OMR3,500 for not respecting the rules and regulations. This can be done if your case goes to the courts, and the judge can double the punishment as well. You can also go to jail, as well, if your cases reach the courts. We are very serious this time in applying all the rules and punishments.”
Oman’s Public Prosecution, in collaboration with other government authorities, has meted out punishments to those found guilty of violating the rules of the movement ban. On Friday, judicial courts in Al Buraimi and South Sharqiyah ruled that nine people who’d flouted these regulations had to pay a fine of OMR1,000. The Omanis found breaking them were also sentenced to six months in jail, while deportation orders were issued for the expatriates involved.
In keeping with the rules of the
Supreme Committee to deal with COVID-19, their names and pictures were also released in local media publications.
Avoidable
Al Mazrui added that the ROP needed to bring in this lockdown, after many in the country were found violating the regulations enacted to stop the spread of the coronavirus in Oman.
“We could have avoided this, if everybody had followed the rules, but according to the statistics we have seen from the Ministry of Health, we were really in need of introducing more curbs, in order to decrease the number of cases, as well to give a break to those working in the medical sector.”
Under the rules of the lockdown, emergency services and goods carriers can still move outdoors between 8 pm and 5 am. Provisions have also been made to those who have to travel to the airport to catch a flight, or receive passengers, as well as those who urgently need to go to hospital.