One arrested for committing environmental crime in Dhofar Governorate

Oman Tuesday 04/July/2023 09:20 AM
By: Times News Service
One arrested for committing environmental crime in Dhofar Governorate

Muscat: Royal Oman Police (ROP) has arrested a person on charges of drifting, displaying rash driving, disturbing peace and tranquility and damaging public property in Dhofar Governorate.

"Dhofar Governorate Police Command arrested a person of Arab nationality on charges of displaying a vehicle on the green areas. The legal procedures are being completed against him," ROP said in a statement.

In the same incident the Environment Authority said that the Environment Authority, in cooperation with the Royal Oman Police, was able to take action against a person who was drifting in his car on the green areas in Dhofar Governorate in a way that affects the safety of individuals, wildlife and vegetation, and distorts the local environment.

In such practices, the Environment Authority takes legal measures in accordance with Article (21) of the Environmental Protection and Pollution Control Law, which prohibits cutting, uprooting, or damaging any tree, shrub, or grass from public forests, and practicing any activity that harms the quantity or quality of vegetation cover in any area, or that would lead to desertification or distortion of the natural environment.

Article (38) of the same law confirms that whoever violates the provisions of this article shall be punished by imprisonment for a period of no less than ten days and no more than three months, and a fine of no less than OMR 500 and no more than OMR 5000 , or one of these two penalties. The penalty shall be doubled in case of repeating the same violation.