59 foreign defendants in Oman face imprisonment, deportation for vandalism, rioting
Defendants have been convicted and sentenced to imprisonment, deportation, and confiscation of their phones on charges of rioting, vandalism, inciting and encouraging rioting, and disseminating material that could harm public order
Published: 01:01 PM,Jan 10,2026 | EDITED : 05:01 PM,Jan 10,2026
Muscat: The Court of First Instance in the Wilayat of Bidbid (Misdemeanor Division) issued a verdict on Thursday, January 8, 2026, convicting 59 foreign defendants, said a statement from the Public Prosecution.
'They were convicted of the misdemeanor of inciting and encouraging a gathering, punishable under Article 123 of the Penal Code; the misdemeanor of participating in a gathering of ten or more persons in a public place that could disrupt public security and order, punishable under Article (121) of the same law; the misdemeanor of damaging movable and immovable property belonging to others, punishable under Article (367) of the Penal Code; and the misdemeanor of using information technology to produce, possess, and disseminate material that could harm public order, punishable under Article (19) of the Cybercrime Law.'
'They were convicted of the misdemeanor of inciting and encouraging a gathering, punishable under Article 123 of the Penal Code; the misdemeanor of participating in a gathering of ten or more persons in a public place that could disrupt public security and order, punishable under Article (121) of the same law; the misdemeanor of damaging movable and immovable property belonging to others, punishable under Article (367) of the Penal Code; and the misdemeanor of using information technology to produce, possess, and disseminate material that could harm public order, punishable under Article (19) of the Cybercrime Law.'
The court also acquitted 23 defendants of the misdemeanors attributed to them.
The court sentenced those convicted to three months in prison for the first offense, six months for the second, one year for the third, and one year for the fourth.
The court also ordered the confiscation of the phones used in committing the publishing offenses and mandated that the sentences be combined with the harshest sentence being applied to those convicted of more than one offense.
The court ordered their permanent deportation from the country and the publication of the verdict
The court also ordered the confiscation of the phones used in committing the publishing offenses and mandated that the sentences be combined with the harshest sentence being applied to those convicted of more than one offense.
The court ordered their permanent deportation from the country and the publication of the verdict
The Public Prosecution's investigations revealed that on the evening of Thursday, December 25, 2025, the Royal Oman Police Operations received a report that the defendants were gathering, vandalizing property, and inciting others to gather in the vicinity of a company-owned residential complex in the Sa'al area of the Wilayat of Bidbid.
Upon arriving at the scene, officers observed a large gathering of workers and noted acts of vandalism against the company's facilities and contents, as well as the disruption and damage to company buses.
The defendants were ordered to cease their gathering and acts of vandalism, and when they failed to comply, they were arrested and interrogated.
Upon arriving at the scene, officers observed a large gathering of workers and noted acts of vandalism against the company's facilities and contents, as well as the disruption and damage to company buses.
The defendants were ordered to cease their gathering and acts of vandalism, and when they failed to comply, they were arrested and interrogated.
After completing the legally prescribed procedures, the accused were referred to the competent court, which issued its fair ruling.