New Oman Penal Code to take effect today

The Oman Penal Code, promulgated by the Royal Decree 7/2018, will come into effect from Monday with new punishments for various offences. The new law, which contains 389 articles, is comprehensive and aims to protect both individual rights as well as national interests. As per the code, any person who kills a public official while performing his duty shall be sentenced to death, which shall be replaced with imprisonment if he is pardoned by the victim’s parents or blood relatives. Establishments or individuals found selling rotten food can face up to 10 years in prison and a fine of RO 10,000. Jail term can go up to 15 years in case of any death from these irregularities. It stipulates three to five years’ imprisonment, dismissal from employment and a ban on public officials from performing public duty if they are found to have embezzled public/private funds. The code stipulates not less than seven years’ imprisonment for anyone who intentionally tries to disrupt the smooth passage of ambulance or public security vehicles. It stipulates three to 15 years’ prison sentence for any Omani national found to be taking part in hostilities outside the country without legal justification or if he joins extremist groups or terrorist organisations. A person who facilitates the entry of an enemy into the country or assists the enemy by providing information or guidance will be sentenced to death. It stipulates imprisonment ranging from three months to three years for those who intentionally disseminate false news, rumours at home or abroad that will undermine prestige of the state, hurt its confidence in the financial markets and thereby affect its financial position. Three to ten years’ imprisonment have been stipulated for anyone transgressing against the God, prophets, the Holy Quran, Islamic religion or other religions. A public gathering of 10 or more people that disrupt security apparatus can lead to a jail term of not less than three months and not more than a one-year jail term, a fine of not less than RO 100 and not more than RO 500. All these penalties can be applied at one go subject to nature of the cases. The law stipulates imprisonment of not less than three months and not more than three years for anyone who arrests a person, hinders or deprives an individual of his liberty by any means contrary to the law. Individuals found of guilty of kidnapping could be jailed for up to seven years. The Royal Decree No 7/2018 had mentioned that the Article 1 states that the penal law attached shall be enforced. Article 2 cancels the Oman Penal Law promulgated by Royal Decree No 7/74 and all that contradicts this (new) law or contravenes its provisions. Article 3 says this Decree shall be published in the Official Gazette and enforced on the day following its date of publication. Vinod Nair