Oman's penal code updated with new punishments for offences

Muscat: Oman’s Penal Code, which protects the rights and civil liberties of residents in the Sultanate, has been updated.
The new Penal Code was brought into force on Sunday by His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, when he signed Royal Decree Number 7/2018, after it was ratified by the Council of Oman.
Among the changes, institutions or individuals accused of producing, manufacturing, and storing rotten food could face up to 10 years in prison and a fine of OMR10,000, according to Oman’s new Penal Code. The term can be increased to 15 years in case of a death.
The newly introduced 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 go to jail for up to seven years.
Any person who kills a public official while 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.
Individuals can also be sentenced to three to 10 years in jail for transgressions against God, prophets, the Holy Quran, the Islamic religion, or other heavenly religions.
It also states that individuals can be sentenced to three years in jail for abusing the privacy of individuals by committing acts, such as listening to a telephone call, recording or transmitting conversations via a device, as well as taking or transferring pictures to a person or group of people without permission.
Oman’s new Penal Code also calls for imprisonment for a period of not less than three years, and not more than five years, for public officials who misappropriate public or private funds.
Also, there is a penalty of imprisonment for a period of not less than one month, and not exceeding one year, and a fine not less than OMR100, or one of these penalties, for anyone who insults or threatens an employee during his or her career, according to the new code.
It also stipulates imprisonment for a period of not less than 10 days, and not exceeding six months, a fine of not less than OMR100, and not exceeding OMR500 or one of these two penalties for persons who have the care of a child who has not completed 18 years of age, or is responsible for a person who is unable to care for himself due to his physical, psychological or mental condition, and refrains from caring for them or neglects or ignores his responsibilities.