Tile manufacturer sent to jail for 10 days, fined OMR500

Muscat: The owner of an industrial tile factory in Oman was sent to prison and fined OMR500 for violating the Consumer Protection Law, the Public Authority for Consumer Protection (PACP) said.
PACP said: “The Court of First Instance at Al Buraimi convicted a defendant for breach of the obligation to provide the agreed service properly, and sentenced him to 10 days of imprisonment, and a fine of OMR500 and to pay back the amount paid of OMR3,000.”
The consumer protection department in Al Buraimi received a complaint from a consumer stating that he contracted an industrial stone tile factory to supply and install tiles on the facade of his house at an amount of OMR9,919. It was agreed to pay OMR3,000 as an advance deposit.
However, when the tiles were delivered to the house, the consumer noticed defects in the stone and its composition, and the substandard quality of the tiles. The tiles were also of different sizes.
The factory first agreed to replace the consignment, but the defects continued to be present in the new batch.
The company then agreed to cancel the consignment and return the amount paid, but failed to make the payment.
After inspecting the consumer’s complaint and presenting the work to a technical expert, who confirmed the defects mentioned by the consumer, the department took necessary measures and transferred the complaint to the Public Prosecution, who in turn referred the case to the competent court that issued a judgment.