Cairo: A Omani court has sentenced a citizen to one year in prison on charges of violating a curfew imposed to curb the spread of the new coronavirus.
The first instance court in Oman’s Al Batinah North Governorate ordered the defendant to pay a fine of 2,000 Omani riyals and suspended his driving licence for six months, the Omani newspaper Shabiba reported.
The man, whose name was not disclosed, was charged with driving his car under the influence of drinking during the curfew hours. He drove the car at high speed and “recklessly” inside residential areas, according to the report.
Omani authorities have repeatedly warned the public against violating measures adopted to contain the virus outbreak in the Sultanate.
Oman so far has reported a total of 82,531 virus cases and 551 related deaths.
On August 7, Oman lifted a two-week complete lockdown between its governorates as part of eased virus-induced restrictions.
A nighttime health curfew was shorted starting as of Saturday.
