20 Nepalis convicted of cybercrime in Oman; 11 deported to Nepal – The Himalayan Times – Nepal’s No.1 English Daily Newspaper

MUSCAT, OCTOBER 18

As many as 20 Nepali nationals, including one woman, were convicted of cybercrime in Oman and sentenced to deportation.

Eleven individuals have already been deported, seven are set to depart soon, and the travel arrangements for the remaining two are yet to be finalized.

An official at the Nepali Embassy in Muscat confirmed the arrests and deportation orders, adding that Dewan Khadka, central member of NRN Social Club Oman in Sohar played a key role in locating the detainees and facilitating their release. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, cited the sensitivity of the matter.

11 individuals returned home on Friday, while seven others are set to leave on Monday. Two remain in custody pending deportation procedures, embassy official added.

According to Khadka, the Royal Oman Police (ROP) arrested the group on March 10 during a raid on a three-storey building in Faijal, Sohar, on suspicion of involvement in cyber-related crimes.

Dewan Khadka, central member of NRN Social Club Oman in Sohar. Courtesy: Khadka/Facebook

“We were contacted by the parents of the detainees through our social media pages after they lost contact with their children. Following coordinated efforts, we discovered that five were being held at the Sohar Detention Centre. Two weeks later, we confirmed that 15 others were also detained there,” Khadka said to THT over the phone.

He added that the team later gained access to the detention centre, arranged a conference call between the detainees and their families, and even provided accommodation for a parent who travelled to Oman to assist in the process.

According to Khadka, a local court sentenced 18 individuals to six months in prison and imposed fines ranging from 300 to 600 Omani rials. Two others received seven-month jail terms and 600-rial fines on separate charges. Those unable to pay their fines had their sentences extended by up to four months.

Khadka further said that seven of the detainees received police clearance on October 6 and are expected to leave Oman on Wednesday.

The group was convicted of cybercrime offences related to online property scams and cryptocurrency fraud. Except for one, all were reportedly in Oman on tourist visas and were working for a Dubai-based Chinese company allegedly involved in online scams. They are believed to have remained in Oman by periodically exiting to Dubai and re-entering on new visas, Khadka shared.

“All of the deported individuals were in their early to mid-thirties,” Khadka added, noting that he personally assisted in securing their police clearances.

Meanwhile, one of the parents, who asked not to be identified, criticised the Nepali Embassy for what they described as a lack of timely intervention to secure the detainees’ release.

An estimated 30,000 Nepalis currently live in Oman, working in sectors such as healthcare, engineering, hospitality, construction, and domestic services.

NRN Social Club Oman Chairperson Suresh Khadka urged Nepalis to familiarise themselves with local laws before travelling abroad. “Know the country’s rules and laws before you come here. If anyone needs help or support in Oman, we are always ready to assist,” he said.