Wednesday 18 March 2026
The Primary Court of Nizwa issued judicial rulings against commercial establishments operating in the sectors of equipment and machinery for violating the Consumer Protection Law promulgated by Royal Decree No. (66/2014) and its Implementing Regulation. The rulings included convictions and financial fines.
This followed the receipt by the Consumer Protection Department in Nizwa of two complaints against commercial establishments operating in the sectors of equipment and machinery. The facts of the first case are summarized as follows: the Department received a complaint from a consumer stating that he had purchased a seed grinding and filtering machine from one of the commercial establishments for an amount of 1200 Omani Riyals. On the day following receipt, it became evident to him that it was not functioning properly, and he informed the establishment accordingly. However, he did not receive any response from the concerned establishment, which prompted him to file a complaint with the Department. The Department undertook the necessary procedures, and upon completion of the file, it was referred to the Public Prosecution, which initiated an investigation and referred it to the competent authorities. A judgment was issued convicting the accused, ordering the refund of the value of the product after the defect was discovered, sentencing the first defendant to imprisonment for a period of three months with suspension of execution, and imposing a fine to the public right in the amount of 2000 Omani Riyals, and imposing a fine on the second defendant (the commercial establishment) to the public right in the amount of 2000 Omani Riyals, provided that each of them shall pay 500 Omani Riyals and the remainder shall be suspended, and obligating them to refund the amount of 1200 Omani Riyals to the civil claimant.
The facts of the second case are also summarized as follows: the consumer contracted with a commercial establishment for the purchase, delivery, and installation of (17) air conditioners for an amount of 3989 Omani Riyals; however, the establishment failed to install them. As no settlement was reached between the two parties, the consumer filed a complaint with the Department, which undertook the necessary procedures. Upon completion of the file, it was referred to the Public Prosecution, which initiated an investigation and referred it to the competent authorities. A judgment was issued convicting the establishment and its representative of the misdemeanor of “failure to provide the service to the consumer in a proper manner in accordance with its nature.” The court ruled to sentence the first defendant to imprisonment for a period of three months for the first charge with a financial fine, and to impose a financial fine on the second defendant, and civilly obligating them to refund an amount of 695 Omani Riyals to the civil claimant and an amount of 200 Omani Riyals as compensation, and obligating them to bear the expenses of both the criminal and civil cases.
The Consumer Protection Authority calls upon suppliers to comply with the applicable laws in the field of consumer protection and to fulfill the conditions and obligations imposed upon them, as this ensures the preservation of consumers’ rights when providing any goods or services.