Crime rate in Oman dropped last year

Muscat: Crime in Oman dropped by more than 8 per cent in 2017 compared with the year before, according to figures released by the Public Prosecution.
Last year, 34,629 crimes were committed, compared with 38,002 crimes in 2016, amounting to an 8.9 per cent decrease in the number of crimes. Expats accounted for four out of every 10 offenders in 2017, according to the statistics, of which 12,622 were males, 1,147 were females and 98 were juveniles.
Violating the residency law was the most common crime committed by expats in 2017, with 2,649 cases, followed by entering the country illegally with 1,256 cases.
Labour Law violations, theft and bounced cheques stood at the third, fourth and fifth places of the most crimes committed, with 1,600, 860 and 827 cases, respectively.
Issuing cheques which bounced was the most common crime committed by Omanis, which recorded 3,737 cases, committed by 3,521 males and 16 females.
Public insult to dignity came in second, with 1,845 cases, committed by 1,409 males, 390 females and 46 juveniles.
This was followed by hurting people on purpose in third place with 1,253 cases. Of these, 1,104 were committed by males, 95 by females and 54 by juveniles.
Drug abuse crimes came in the fourth place with 1,166 cases, committed by 1,150 males, 10 females and six juveniles.
Theft came in the fifth place as the most crime committed by Omanis with 994 cases, committed by 731 males, 42 females and 221 juveniles.
In the light of bounced cheques being among the most common crime committed among citizens, a senior lawyer in the Sultanate asked people to once again follow the law, warning that the penalties for breaching any of the country’s legislations were quite severe, adding that offenders would be dealt with in a strict manner by the country’s legal system.
“Bounced cheques is a crime under Oman’s law.
“I would advise people to avoid issuing cheques when there is not enough cash or liquidity in their bank accounts to refrain from committing a crime. Both nationals and residents of the country should observe the provisions of the law of the country and be fully acquainted with them,” said Ahmed Al Barwani, Partner and Head of Office at Al Tamimi Al Barwani Law firm.
Expatriate residents in the Sultanate of Oman also banded together and found common cause with their Omani counterparts and asked citizens and residents alike to continue to uphold the traditions of safety that Oman is now known for.
Karunakar Rao, Convener, Karnataka Wing of the Indian Social Club, added: “We are all well aware that the Royal Oman Police (ROP) are insisting that we should always follow the law, because the law is there to protect all of us.”
“I have unfortunately seen many cases of people breaking the law, so my advice to them is to follow it. I have been here for the last 20 years and I can safely say that we are very lucky to live in a country such as this one, where there is a very low rate of crime and people are friendly and the country is safe; so we must keep it that way because I have seen instances of people breaking the law,” said Karunakar Rao.
“I would also like to add here, that expats in no way should drive their cars in an inebriated state, because then you are not just endangering yourself, you are putting other people at risk as well,” he added. “Fortunately, the justice system is quite understanding here, and looks into people’s problems, but we must make it a point not to take advantage of the benefits given to us.”