SECOND TIP CASE CONCLUDED IN OMAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L MUSCAT 000897

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019/09/09
TAGS: PHUM PREL KTIP MU
SUBJECT: SECOND TIP CASE CONCLUDED IN OMAN

CLASSIFIED BY: Victor Hurtado, CdA, Department of State, Embassy
Muscat; REASON: 1.4(B),(D)


1. (U) An Omani court convicted two expatriates of Trafficking in
Persons (TIP) for forcing a third expatriate into prostitution. A
front-page article in "Oman" (a state owned Arabic daily
circulation = 38,000) reported on September 6 convictions in the
Sultanate's second TIP case in the northern port city of Sohar.
The Sohar Court convicted and sentenced the two expatriates on
separate charges of trafficking in persons and forcing prostitution
and mandated the concurrent serving of the two sentences. The more
severe was for the TIP charge and imposed seven years in prison and
a 10,000 Omani rial (US$26,000) fine. According to the report, the
convicted couple will be permanently expelled from Oman upon
completion of their prison sentence. There will be no charges
brought against the victim.




2. (C) Comment: The article shows a growing understanding in Oman
of the value of publishing information about TIP cases. In a
country loathe to publish anything negative, front page press
coverage of criminal activity is a significant departure from the
norm. Moreover, the coverage indicates increased official
understanding of the nexus of issues involved including the
reference to a "victim," the lack of prosecution of that victim,
and the imposition of the longest prison term allowed by law for a
simple TIP case. The prosecution of the case in Sohar, roughly 100
miles from Muscat, confirms that awareness - likely the result of
on-going training and capacity building - has successfully moved
beyond the capital. End Comment.
HURTADO