Muscat – Two foreign nationals have been convicted and sentenced after disturbing nesting turtles at the Ras Al Hadd Turtle Reserve and publishing a video of their actions on social media.

The Court of First Instance in Sur convicted the defendants, identified by the Office of the Attorney General as Vadim and Olena, of two misdemeanours.

The court imposed a fine of RO100 on each defendant for acts likely to harm and disturb nesting turtles. The defendants were also sentenced to one month in prison for using information technology to publish content deemed prejudicial to public order.

The penalties were ordered to be merged, with the prison sentence suspended. The court also ordered publication of the judgment.

According to the Office of the Attorney General, its investigation found that the defendants had climbed onto the backs of large turtles, handled smaller turtles, and touched and approached turtles as they moved along the beach at the reserve.

The defendants also filmed themselves while carrying out the acts and later published the video through the first defendant’s Instagram account.

The case highlights Oman’s strict approach to protecting wildlife and its nature reserves, particularly the internationally known turtle nesting sites along the sultanate’s coastline.

The Office of the Attorney General stressed the importance of complying with laws and regulations protecting wildlife and nature reserves, while also urging responsible use of social media and respect for public order and societal values.