Muscat – A father prosecuted for neglecting his children, two teenagers drawn from a troubled home into online exploitation, and a mother and daughter murdered by men posing as healthcare workers are among cases revisited by the Public Prosecution in the latest issue of its Society and Law magazine.

The accounts, written by prosecutors and published in Issue 18, use concluded criminal cases to highlight wider concerns ranging from parental responsibility and online grooming to the exploitation of public trust.

When a father walks away

A report to the Child Protection Hotline (1100) set in motion a case involving minor children whose father had largely withdrawn from their lives, according to an article by Chief Public Prosecutor Akram Salim Hamad Al Mahrooqi.

Social workers who visited the home confirmed the children were living in difficult circumstances. Their mother had died and their father had stopped visiting for months, leaving them without the parental care and support they needed.

The investigation found the neglect extended beyond financial support to their educational, psychological and social needs. The children spoke of fear, isolation and the burden of coping with responsibilities beyond their age.

The Public Prosecution treated the case not simply as a family dispute but as a violation of the children’s legal rights. The father was charged with neglect and failure to care for his minor children under Article 278 of the Penal Code.

The court convicted him and sentenced him to imprisonment.

The article stressed that parental responsibility does not end with providing food or shelter. Guardians have legal and moral duties to protect children’s dignity, emotional wellbeing and development.

From a broken home to digital exploitation

A separate case began with the disappearance of two children, aged 14 and 16, after they left their family home, Assistant Attorney General Ahmed Al Tobi wrote.

Royal Oman Police tracked down the children and arrested those involved. Investigators found that the teenagers had fled after enduring violence and abuse at home, leaving them vulnerable to people who gained their trust online.

One suspect befriended them through a video game, gradually building confidence before arranging for them to leave home. The children were given money and SIM cards and later housed away from their normal surroundings.

What initially appeared to them as help developed into exploitation.

According to the account, the children were subsequently used in sexual trafficking, with offenders using phone calls, WhatsApp and their images to solicit others.

Several defendants were convicted of offences including sexual exploitation of children, facilitating juvenile delinquency and rape-related crimes.

The first defendant received seven years in prison and a RO10,000 fine, while another was sentenced to five years and fined RO5,000. Other accomplices also received prison terms and fines.

The case, the article argues, demonstrates how family instability can leave children particularly exposed to online grooming and criminal networks operating through games and social media.

Killers behind the white coat

The third case centres on one of the most disturbing forms of deception: criminals exploiting public confidence in healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In an article by Public Prosecutor Mohammed bin Salim Al Qasimi, the case began on November 1, 2020, when a woman received a WhatsApp message informing her that a Ministry of Health team would visit her home to conduct a COVID-19 test.

The message was fake.

Two men arrived wearing white medical coats, gloves and masks and carrying what appeared to be official identification. Once admitted to the house, they killed the woman and her daughter before stealing money and valuables.

Their plan had been prepared for weeks and relied on the anxiety of the pandemic and the trust people placed in medical teams.

The crime came to light after a resident reported a foul smell coming from a vehicle. Police, working with the Public Prosecution, uncovered the bodies and an investigation involving forensic and technical evidence led to the suspects.

Two defendants were sentenced to death and another to life imprisonment. The Supreme Court later upheld the ruling.

Beyond the convictions, the article leaves a broader warning: criminals can exploit the very symbols people associate with safety – making vigilance essential even when trust appears justified.