MUSCAT: The Ibri Criminal Division of the Court of Appeal convicted Hazza bin Khalifa bin Ali of a series of cyber offenses, including using internet platforms to threaten and attempt to extort a child, and displaying pornographic content to a minor. The court found him guilty of five separate charges, including:
Felony use of internet and IT to issue dishonorable threats:
- Misdemeanour of threatening via internet and IT
- Misdemeanour of displaying pornographic films
- Misdemeanour of displaying such content to a juvenile
- Misdemeanour of exposing a juvenile to delinquency
According to the Public Prosecution, the convict had blackmailed the child victim by threatening to publish indecent images and video footage unless paid money. Investigations revealed that he took advantage of the victim’s age to expose him to inappropriate material.
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The court sentenced Hazza to one year in prison and a fine of RO 3,000 for the first two charges, and one year in prison with an additional RO 1,000 fine for the third and fourth charges. He received another one-year sentence for the fifth charge. As per Omani law, only the most severe of the combined penalties will be enforced.
In addition to the imprisonment and fines, the court ordered the confiscation of the mobile phone used in the crime, the publication of the verdict summary in a widely circulated newspaper, and that the convict bear the full legal expenses.
