Muscat, August 9 - The next time a police officer in civilian clothes stops you, ask for his identification, the Royal Oman Police (ROP) has said, while urging citizens and residents to exercise caution and “avoid getting trapped”.
The warning comes in the wake of three nationals having been arrested on charges of impersonation.
The ROP has asked the people to make sure the man in casual clothes is a real police officer before following any instructions or handing over their identification or resident card.
It is found the criminals have been mostly targeting expatriates.
Three persons were arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department in Muscat in two separate incidents on charges of theft and impersonation of police officers.
In one case, two nationals posing as police officers, stopped an Asian motorist, beat him up and fled with his cash. They were arrested later.
In another case, a man posing as a cop was held for “arresting” an Asian, demanding documents and snatching money from him.
Similar incidents have taken place in the past too.
Last January, the ROP arrested two people posing as police officers on charges of kidnapping two Asian expats and demanding ransom for their release.
Nizwa police station received a complaint from a man saying his father and his colleague had been kidnapped. A ransom was demanded for their release.
Investigation agencies traced the duo to Muscat, leading to their arrest. During investigations, it was learned the accused had committed a similar offence earlier.
In another case, the criminal investigation team from the police department in Muscat Governorate arrested a national on charges of robbery and impersonating a police officer.
According to the ROP, the accused, posing as a policeman, stopped an Asian expatriate in Muttrah and demanded documents from him. He took him to a nearby building and robbed him of cash. The accused was said to be in an inebriated condition. According to Article 174 of Oman Penal Code, anyone impersonating the status of an official and practising a public function shall be sentenced to imprisonment for 10 days to two years and fined between RO 5 and RO 100, or either of these sentences.
Article 166 says any official who enters an individual’s house without his consent in cases other than those stipulated by law or without respecting the law provisions, shall be sentenced to two months to two years in jail.
Fahad al Ghadani
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