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Merge 104.8 | 13 July 2020
An Omani social media user is facing jail-time for promoting a concoction alleged to “cure coronavirus”, says lawyer Salah Al Maqbali.
Speaking to Merge 104.8’s sister station Al Wisal, Al Maqbali said that, according to the Omani cybercrime law, spreading rumours that can cause harm to the public order is a crime punishable by a maximum of three years in prison and a fine of OMR 3,000.
Al Maqbali explained that he has seen around ten similar cases against people who claimed to have a cure for COVID-19.
The punishment of a one-year jail-term for the social media user in this case, however, was reduced to one month in jail.
Al Maqbali explained that there are at least 50 other cases currently before the Omani courts against people who were charged with spreading false news about closure of shops and lockdowns in certain areas of the Sultanate.
“Such violations come under the cybercrime law, which is a part of the Public Prosecution tasks,” Al Maqbali said. “People commit such crimes because of their insecurity and, sometimes, they intended to joke around.”
(Also read: Ministry refutes rumour of foreign medical aid to Oman amid COVID-19 pandemic.)
