MUSCAT: At least 70 people have been arrested and sentenced to prison for stealing public funds in Oman, the Public Prosecution has informed. Quoting a local English daily, the Public Prosecution said that the number of cases of public fraud has increased in the last few years.  

In the first half of 2018, 40 expats and 30 Omanis were accused of stealing public funds. 

140% increase in similar crimes
According to the report by the Public Prosecution, there were 112 people accused of similar crimes in 2016 and 200 in 2018, registering an increase of 140 per cent. The number of cases increased by 150 per cent between 2016 and 2017, with 55 cases of public fund crimes in 2016 and 138 cases in 2017.

Following these most recent arrests, the public prosecution warned that anyone who attempts to steal funds from the government, will face severe punishment.

An official at the Public Prosecution told the English daily, “Public funds include everything that is owned by the country and is allocated for public use. It includes roads, government buildings and lands, real estate that belongs to the government, zakat, orphanages and money for minors and endowment funds, among other things.”

The official added, “Interfering with public funds is considered a crime and anyone who misuses public money will be punished to the full extent of the law.”

Oman’s Penal Code lays down specific punishments for acts of fraud, which included the forging and selling of documents relating to state security and the embezzling of public property.

Article 141 says that people found guilty of destroying, concealing, embezzling, leaking or forging papers or records relating to State security or any other national interest would face a jail term of between three and 10 years. Public officials who committed such crimes would get between 10 and 15 years behind bars.

Article 213 states that public officials who use their position to embezzle public property will face a jail sentence of between three and five years and will be made to pay a fine equivalent to the value of the property. If forgery is also involved, jail time is extended to between five and ten years and the offender is removed from office and prohibited from any further public duties.

With regards to fraud, Article 221 says that those who commit fraud towards the supply and maintenance of all public property will also face jail terms of between three and five years. It is increased to between five and 10 years if the fraud results in severe harm or relates to matters of security and defence. Subcontractors, agents, brokers, and consultants shall be punished by the same punishment if the fraud is attributed to their conduct.