Muscat – In an interview with Hala Radio, Rasha Al Abdaliah, First Public Prosecutor, stated that the expat woman had collected donations from the public to the tune of more than RO 245,000 in a very short period. The woman subsequently withdrew the entire amount and took it in cash outside of the Sultanate, to a country considered internationally high-risk.

The Ministry of Social Development had recently issued a stern warning against unlicensed donation appeals. The Ministry had stressed that individuals engaging in such unauthorised fundraising activities without proper authorisation face serious legal consequences, including imprisonment and fines.

In line with Articles 299 and 300 of the Omani Penal Code, the Ministry reiterated that collecting money from the public without a valid license is a punishable offense. Article 299 outlines penalties for soliciting donations without permission, including imprisonment for up to three months, fines ranging from RO 200 to 600, or both. Repeat offenders could face double penalties. Additionally, Article 300 addresses the consequences of collecting funds and sending them abroad, with penalties including imprisonment for up to one year and fines ranging from RO 1,000 to 2,000.