‘Death penalty very rare in Oman’

“A crime scene investigative team was dispatched to the site and sent the body to the forensic department for further investigation. The forensic report showed that there was a fracture in the victim’s neck, caused by bullet fragments that remained in his body, revealing that the victim had, indeed, been murdered,” the report continued.

Once the ROP presented their evidence, along with questions to the wife, she admitted committing the crime and told police what had occured.

An official from the Prosecution told the Times of Oman that requesting the death penalty is very rare in Oman, as there are few murder crimes that are premeditated. “There have been few death sentences in the past, though most are due to premeditated murder and drug-related crimes,” he said.

The new Penal Code was brought into force in January by His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, when he signed Royal Decree Number 7/2018 after it was ratified by the Council of Oman.

Civil liberties

The new Oman Penal Code also protects the civil liberties of residents in the country by providing imprisonment of not less than three months, and not exceeding three years, for anyone who arrests a person, hinders or deprives a person of his liberty by any means contrary to the law. In addition, the new code states that those who are found guilty of kidnapping could be imprisoned for up to seven years.

Also, any person who kills a public official who is performing his duty shall be sentenced to death, which can be replaced by imprisonment if he is pardoned by the victim’s parents or blood relatives.