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EDITOR IN CHIEF- ABDULLAH BIN SALIM AL SHUEILI

Steps planned to ease task of anti-begging squad

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By Fahad Al Ghadani — MUSCAT: April 23 - The Muscat Municipal Council is considering steps to make the procedures less cumbersome for the government’s anti-begging squad when they produce alms-seekers before the courts.


Legal procedures, including witness testimony and submission of documentary evidence, have proved onerous for members of the squad, which report to the Ministry of Social Development (MoSD).


“Members of the squad have to attend court proceedings, collect and collate evidence and submit photographic and video evidence against the suspects. This can be rather taxing for the team, considering it has other responsibilities as well. This additional burden may discourage them from exerting all efforts in support of the anti-begging campaign,” said Salim al Ghammari, member of the Muscat Municipal Council.


Al Ghammari told the Observer the council is discussing concerns of the squad and hopes to come up with possible solutions to facilitate its work without burdening it.


Keen to clamp down on begging in public, the MoSD has been urging citizens and residents to report beggars so they can be “reformed and rehabilitated”.


“Don’t encourage begging, help in transforming them,” the ministry has tweeted. It sought to assure the public that they were not harming the beggars by reporting them.


“Beggars can be helped and maybe reformed to lead a respectful life,” the tweet noted.


As part of the rehabilitation effort, the ministry is looking at bringing some panhandlers under the ambit of the social security system. It provides job opportunities for the family members when the breadwinner is capable of working, but does not.


Those found begging despite the means to support themselves will be counselled and guided in establishing their own businesses. However, repeat offenders are liable to stiff penalties under the penal code, it stated.


Earlier, beggars seeking alms in public or private places were liable to face imprisonment of not less than two months and not exceeding one year. This is in addition to a fine of not less than RO 50 and not more than RO 100.


If a beggar is not Omani, he/she is liable to be deported. Anyone using children or others will be imprisoned for three months up to three years.


A total of 612 beggars (226 nationals and 386 expatriates) were arrested in 2015, down from 835 in 2014, according to the ministry.


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