Tuesday 24 March 2026
The Court of First Instance in the Wilayat of Barka issued a judicial ruling convicting a commercial establishment operating in the vehicle sector and its owner for violating the provisions of the Consumer Protection Law issued by Royal Decree No. (66/2014) and its Executive Regulations. The Court ruled to impose a total fine of 4000 Omani Riyals as a suspended penalty, obligating them to bear the criminal case expenses, and ruling in favor of the claimant an amount of 1000 Omani Riyals as compensation for the material and moral damages sustained.
The facts of the case date back to the Department of Consumer Protection in Barka receiving a complaint from a consumer, in which she stated that she had contracted with a commercial establishment to purchase a Hyundai Santa Fe (four-wheel drive) vehicle for a value of 16813 Omani Riyals, which was fully paid. After six days of receiving the vehicle, a defect appeared in the electrical connections, which prompted the consumer to demand a refund of the paid amount in accordance with the provisions of the Consumer Protection Law.
Upon confronting the authorized manager of the establishment, he admitted the sale transaction, the existence of a warranty for the vehicle, and that the establishment had received a report from the consumer regarding the defect within six days from delivery. A technical inspection confirmed the existence of a defect in the vehicle, thereby establishing that the supplier violated the provisions of Article (25) of the Consumer Protection Law, which stipulates the supplier’s obligation to refund the value of the product, replace it, or repair it free of charge if a defect is discovered by the consumer.
Accordingly, the matter was referred to the Public Prosecution to take the necessary legal action, which in turn referred the case file to the competent court.
The Consumer Protection Authority affirmed its continuous commitment to monitoring the compliance of suppliers with market-regulating legislation and to taking the necessary legal action against any violations, emphasizing the importance of adherence by institutions and companies to the applicable laws and regulations to ensure the protection of consumer rights and safeguard their interests.