Pre-school owner fined for closing school, not compensating parents

Muscat: A pre-school owner in Sohar has been ordered to pay a fine of more than OMR 5,000 for violating consumer protection laws, the Public Authority for Consumer Protection (PACP) announced.

The Sohar court of first instance issued a judgment in favour of the Directorate General for Consumer Protection in Northern Batinah against the owner of a pre-school centre.

According to PACP, “As a result of the judgment, the owner was ordered to pay a fine of OMR 5,240 for not complying with the proper provision of services, failure to reimburse the consumers, and for not supplying the consumer with an Arabic receipt proving that a service provided.”

The case began when the directorate received complaints from a number of consumers against a pre-school centre. The consumers had an agreement with the owner to teach their children for a full academic year, after which, the owner received registration payments and monthly instalments.

After the agreement, the owner closed the centre, without reimbursing the consumer or providing them withthe contract or receipts.

After trying for several months to contact the owner, the consumers filed a complaint to the directorate who began investigating the case.

The directorate of consumer protection then referred the case to the Public Prosecution, who then referred it to the Court of First Instance in Sohar, who issued the judgment above.