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EDITOR IN CHIEF- ABDULLAH BIN SALIM AL SHUEILI

Missing teenage girl in Barka traced

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MUSCAT, June 3 - A 13-year-old girl who had gone missing from her home in Barka last Thursday has been traced.


She was found on Friday in Mabela by the Criminal Investigation Department of the Royal Oman Police (ROP). According to initial investigations, the girl was “lured” to meet a person through the social media. The identity of both the victim and the person has not been revealed.


The ROP has said parents should regularly monitor activities of their children on the Internet, including the social media.


They should put in place appropriate safety mechanisms so that children are not exposed to unfiltered information and human traffickers.


While lauding ROP’s efforts in tracing the girl, voices on the social media said parents should be equally held responsible for such incidents.


They felt parents should monitor children’s “telephonic activities” to learn about the kind of mistakes they are likely to make in their social interactions.


“It won’t be a good idea to block children from using the social media or accessing the Internet, but there should be a proper surveillance system to ensure children can differentiate between the right and the wrong,” said Khalid, an Internet user.


Article 15 of Oman Cyber Law, issued in 2011, stipulates a penalty with a temporary imprisonment for a period not less than three years and not exceeding five years and a fine not less than RO 3,000 and not exceeding RO 5,000.


It applies to any person who uses informational network or information technology to incite or instigate a male/female to commit lechery or prostitution or help him to commit such a crime. The punishment of temporary imprisonment for a period not less than five years and not exceeding ten years and the fine of not less than RO 5,000 and not exceeding RO 10,000 shall be applied if a victim is a juvenile (not completed 18 years of age).


By Staff Reporter


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