Dubai: A member of Oman’s elected Shura Council has been sentenced to four years in jail on charges of defaming the country, banditry and illegal gathering, an Omani news site reported.

Citing defence attorneys, Al Balad news site reported that a court of appeals verdict issued in Muscat on Monday morning sentenced Omani activist and member of the Shura Council Talib Al Maamari and six others to prison sentences for charges associated with what has become known in Oman as the “Liwa incident”, referring to protests held in August in Al Maamari’s constituency.

Al Maamari was sentenced to three years for defaming the country and one year for banditry and illegal gathering.

Saqr Al Bulushi, member of the elected Municipal Council representing Liwa, was given a one year sentence for banditry and illegal gathering.

Three were acquitted, while five others were sentenced to one year each for illegal gathering and banditry, according to Al Balad.

In its accusation, the public prosecution cited articles 135 and 137 of the Omani penal code. Article 135 stipulates a prison sentence of no less than three months and no more than three years with a minimum fine of OR100 (Dh954) and a maximum of OR500 for those who incite and intentionally publish or disseminate false information, rumours or propaganda inside or outside the country with the aim of defaming the country or undermine its economic status.

Article 137 following its latest amendment stipulates a prison sentence ranging from one month to one year with a fine of no more than OR100 for those involved in gatherings of at least 10 people with the aim of disturbing public order.

If the participant engaged in violence then the sentence range would be between six months and three years with a maximum fine of OR500.

On August 22, Omani authorities broke up a protest in Liwa decrying pollution coming from the nearby industrial areas in the port city of Sohar. Among those arrested were Al Maamari and Al Bulushi.

As an elected member of the 84-member Shura Council, Al Maamari enjoyed immunity which could only be lifted with the authorisation of two-thirds of the council.

If the council is not in session, its chairman has the authority to lift a member’s immunity. When the Liwa protests took place, the council was not in session, but its chairman Shaikh Khalid Bin Hilal Bin Nasser Al Ma’wali said on twitter that he has not lifted Al Maamari’s immunity.

It is believed, however, that the public prosecution used a provision in Omani law under which a member of the council can be detained if he or she is present at the scene of the crime without the need for authorisation from the council’s members.

Last year, the public prosecution attempted to try Al Maa’mari for a post on his Facebook account against a Housing Ministry employee. The Shura Council rejected the request to lift his immunity.

Before his election, Al Maamari was detained in Sohar during the Arab Spring-style protests there in early 2011. He was eventually released without any conviction. He then ran for elections and won a seat in the Shura Council.

He has since been known to make fiery speeches calling on his supporters to “claim their rights” from the government and the country’s leadership in large gatherings that are often filmed and uploaded on the internet.

The province of Liwa lies in the governorate of Al Batina North on the north-western coast of Oman.