Oman expats face deportation over COVID-19 violations
Total of 42 people, including 9 Omanis, charged with violating bans on movement
Cairo: Thirty-three migrant workers in Oman face deportation after they were convicted in court verdicts of violating the country’s rules against the spread of the coronavirus.
Courts in the Omani governorates of Al Batinah, Dhofar, Musandam and Al Sharqiyah South have convicted a total of 42 people, including nine Omanis, on charges of violating bans on movement and mass gatherings or failing to wear mandatory protective face masks, local media reported.
The rulings, passed over the period from November 24 to December 3, ranged from three months in prison and a fine of OMR1,000 each.
The courts ordered convicted foreigners to be deported from Oman.
Tackling crisis
The photos and names of the 42 defendants were published by local media in line with a decision earlier made by Oman’s supreme committee in charge of tackling the COVID-19 crisis to deter would-be offenders.
The foreign offenders are Bangladeshi, Philippine, Pakistani and Indian nationals, according to the official announcements released by public prosecution.
Oman so far has registered a total of 124,329 virus cases and 1,435 related deaths.