Citizen convicted in Arabian gazelle hunting case
Environmental Authority (EA), said in a statement: "Salalah Court of Appeal issued a court ruling against a citizen in a case involving the hunting of an Arabian Gazelle. The ruling ordered the accused to pay a fine of OMR 5,000 and to pay all legal costs."
"The Environment Authority urges everyone to preserve the natural environment and refrain from harming it, lest they be subject to legal action."
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Times of Oman
a day ago
- Times of Oman
Over 1,000 human rights cases documented in 2024: OHRC
Muscat: Oman Human Rights Commission (OHRC) received and documented a total of 1,006 cases in 2024, including 47 complaints and 22 reports, while 937 cases were provided with legal support. These cases spanned various civil, political, economic, social, cultural, environmental, and developmental rights, as well as the rights of vulnerable groups. This was unveiled during a press conference held today by Oman Human Rights Commission, which highlighted its key efforts in 2024, including monitoring and receiving complaints, responding to regional and international reports, and organizing internal and external activities. Dr. Rashid Hamad Al Balushi, Chairman of Oman Human Rights Commission, stated that the commission continues its national role in protecting and promoting human rights, guided by its mandate and the principles enshrined in the Basic Law of the State and international conventions to which Oman is a signatory. He affirmed the commission's commitment to enhancing its operational mechanisms and strengthening its role as an independent national institution dedicated to fostering a culture of human rights, citizenship, justice, and human dignity in Oman. Al Balushi explained that the commission's vision is to serve as an effective national platform supporting and protecting human rights across all segments of society and institutions. Its mission is to instill a human rights culture, promote its practice, and safeguard these rights in accordance with local and international laws and principles. He expressed satisfaction with the progress made by the Royal Oman Police in upholding human rights, particularly in services provided to inmates and detainees. During field visits to the central prison, the commission verified that health, educational, legal, sports, training, recreational, and hobby-related services met appropriate standards. He noted that press freedom is a cornerstone of freedom of expression, highlighting Oman's 18-place rise in the 2024 World Press Freedom Index issued by Reporters Without Borders compared to 2023. The index evaluates 180 countries annually based on five criteria: political context, legal framework, economic environment, sociocultural factors, and safety. Al-Balushi also revealed that the National Human Rights Strategy will be launched on 10 December, encompassing various aspects to strengthen and protect human rights in Oman in line with the Basic Law of the State and international conventions ratified by the Sultanate of Oman's. The commission, he added, provided legal support for 937 cases this year, assisting individuals in resolving their issues through proper legal channels, in accordance with national laws and international agreements. This support covered civil, political, economic, social, cultural, environmental, and developmental rights. In conclusion, Dr. Al Balushi stated that the commission responded to several international governmental and non-governmental reports, including Amnesty International's 2022/2023 Annual Report on human rights in Oman, the U.S. State Department's 2023 Annual Report on human rights in Oman, and its 2023 Trafficking in Persons Report, which assessed Oman's anti-trafficking efforts in 2022.
Times of Oman
2 days ago
- Times of Oman
Monday column: The theatre of life in Salalah
I am in Salalah this week and I met someone who was once a very powerful business executive whose word would send a shiver in the corporate culture in Oman. As I cast my thoughts in the past, I remember him as an arrogant man who hurt the feelings of almost everyone who crossed his path, both professionally and socially. Many would say that 'power got into his head' and controlled his way of thinking. He ruined the careers of many people who worked under him in the name of 'professionalism.' He never understood the meaning of that word and he never cared anyway. He trampled on the feelings of his employees all the time. But when I was looking at him while he was walking in the hotel's lobby, no one would guess what he was when he was in the seat of power. Let me correct myself. In this hotel, he was not 'walking' but 'shuffling' his steps like a baby who was learning to walk while two people were holding each of his hands. He did not see me and I never made an attempt to get near him. Two decades ago, when he was in the pinnacle of his career, he put a condition when I asked for an appointment to see him. His secretary told me, apologetically, that he would only see me in his office if I 'wear a tie and a suit'. First, I thought he was joking but the secretary assured me that he was not. I picked up my notebook and left never to return again in his office. Of course, it was tempting for me to go to him in this Salalah hotel and reminded him. But I did not, because after taking a second look at him, he would not remember me. In his condition, he would not remember anyone. But again, there are many such people like him around. I am sure all of us would know one. When power gets into the head, it can become very addictive. Such people hold a mental leash whipping at people under their command without mercy. The only problem is that they do not see what lies on their future path. But one day, it goes 'wham', and the roof of their lives comes down heavily collapsing at them. Again, while still in Salalah, I noted so many other things that I normally don't when I am in Muscat. Not just the beauty around me and the good weather. But the people from different backgrounds of life. They all appear to have the same target and that is to have a good time during the fabulous Khareef season. There is more for them. Bursting the stress of their daily lives, changing their routine or just a curiosity to see something new. I would sometimes watch them and try to figure out what is in their minds as they eat, walk or just simply sit quietly. Every one of them have their own story. The young may well try to figure out how to cope with the professional dictators of their carriers while the old reflect if they had lived their lives differently. But for me, it was about the theater of life. We were born, we lived and now we are somewhere in the playhouse of life. And that is what is all about.
Times of Oman
3 days ago
- Times of Oman
FSA appeals ruling acquitting some board members in Sweets of Oman suit
Muscat, Oman - The Financial Services Authority (FSA), regulator of Oman's capital market and insurance sector, has announced that it has appealed a Primary Court ruling in Muscat that effectively acquitted three board members of publicly listed Sweets of Oman SAOG, while imposing a substantial financial penalty on one board member and several executive management staff in an embezzlement case. The appeal, filed on 29 July 2025, is in response to the ruling of the Primary Court issued on 30 June 2025 in the suit brought against members of the Board of Directors of Sweets of Oman SAOG for their term of office from 2017 to 2019, along with a number of the company's executive employees. The case concerned a criminal matter related to serious violations that caused financial harm to the company and its shareholders, committed by one board member in collaboration with several executive management employees. The Primary Court, in its verdict, ordered certain members of the board and executive management to return an amount of OMR 5 million in favor of the company and its shareholders, in addition to bearing court fees and expenses. It however acquitted three board members from liability, citing the lack of a causal link between them and the proven damages, as determined in the court's reasoning. This acquittal now been contested by the Authority through its appeal filed recently. The court's ruling followed reports confirming that the company's losses and damages resulted from gross negligence in fulfilling the Board's legal and oversight duties, with major shortcomings in five key areas: failure to oversee bank loans, including obtaining loans without assessing their feasibility or impact and recording them at non-genuine values in the financial statements; approval of financial statements without internal audit review and confirmation of fictitious inventory at a branch; addition of financial assets without legal approval, a board resolution, or clear funding sources; failure to apply policies for writing off doubtful debts in accordance with International Accounting Standards; and suspicions of collusion by certain executive employees in inflating revenues and understating liabilities, coupled with the Audit Committee's failure to fulfil its duties in line with corporate governance principles for public joint-stock financial companies. The Authority emphasised that these practices resulted in the presentation of inaccurate and misleading financial data, harming the company's financial position and the interests of its shareholders. This ruling reflects the Omani judiciary's affirmation of the principle of personal liability for members of boards of directors of public joint-stock companies, which does not end with the expiry of their term of office but extends for five years from the date of the act or omission, in accordance with Article (18) of the Commercial Companies Law. The Authority also stressed the necessity for board members to carry out their legal and oversight responsibilities with competence and awareness, ensuring proper guidance of executive management without excessive interference in daily operations or neglect in follow-up and monitoring, thereby safeguarding financial procedures and protecting shareholders' rights. This approach is reinforced by Article (206) of the Commercial Companies Law, which states: 'The members of the Board of Directors shall be jointly liable towards the company, shareholders, and third parties for damages resulting from their joint actions in violation of the law, actions exceeding their powers, or any fraud, forgery, or error they commit during the performance of their duties, as well as for failing to act with the care of a prudent person under given circumstances.' It is noteworthy that the ruling was issued after the court merged two lawsuits filed against the company's board members and certain executive employees. The Financial Services Authority filed the first lawsuit in December 2022, followed by a second lawsuit filed by several major shareholders in July 2023. The Authority reaffirms its full commitment to promoting the principles of governance, transparency, and accountability, and to exercising its regulatory role in monitoring compliance by companies under its supervision and their boards of directors with applicable laws and regulations, based on the powers granted to it under the Commercial Companies Law No. (18/2019), including Article (207). It also calls on all parties to strictly comply with the applicable laws and regulations, and to refrain from any practices that could undermine the integrity and efficiency of markets or harm the rights of shareholders and investors.
