Muscat – The Public Prosecution received 55,164 cases in 2025, a 19% increase on the previous year, with higher filings in both misdemeanours and felonies, officials said at the authority’s annual conference on Sunday.

Misdemeanours accounted for 52,553 cases and felonies 2,593, while other matters, including violations and administrative complaints, totalled 18. The overall case resolution rate reached 98.4%. Felony cases rose 13.7% and misdemeanours 19.6% compared to 2024.

The number of defendants registered in cases climbed to 73,391, up 24.7%. Men made up 89.2% of defendants, juveniles 1.6% and foreigners 47.5%.

Muscat governorate recorded the largest number of cases at 23,748, followed by North Batinah with 10,744 and Dhofar with 6,179.

Royal Oman Police handled the majority of cases – 38,270. The Ministry of Labour received 9,198 reports, followed by the Public Prosecution’s e-services portal (3,996) and Consumer Protection Authority (2,719).

Labour law violations were the most common offences with 22,309 cases. Bounced cheque cases totalled 10,482 and residency-related offences involving foreigners 9,493. The Public Prosecution reported 12 murder cases in 2025.

Electronic submissions continued to rise, reaching 54,276 cases, up 19.2%. The Public Prosecution scored 82% on the government’s digital transformation index, a three-point improvement.

Judicial orders issued during the year rose 17.5% to 307,375. Investigation reports fell 4.8% to 79,266. Public service requests increased 133.6%, with an 89.5% completion rate.

Total judgments reached 22,423, up 4.7%. Of these, 19,176 were executed and 3,247 remained pending.

Attorney General Nasr bin Khamis al Sawai said investigations into the Amerat family accident found no direct or indirect responsibility on any person or entity. A family of six died due to asphyxiation in Amerat in November last year. The initial report at the time indicated that the family (a couple and four children) inhaled carbon monoxide gas while they were asleep.

Sawai said 73 specialised investigators have been assigned to juvenile cases following targeted training. While stressing that freedom of expression is guaranteed by law, he reiterated that violations affecting public order would be addressed within the legal framework.

He highlighted over 3,610 cases involving the abuse and exploitation of minors, including for begging, and called for stronger family supervision, warning that neglect can have lasting social consequences. He informed that 1,246 cases of child sexual harassment were recorded, along with 1,212 cases of physical or psychological abuse, 846 cases of exposing minors to delinquency and 106 cases of child rape, among other offences.

Money laundering cases stood at 193 last year, including 126 referred to court, 18 under investigation and 49 closed. Fraud cases continue to rise despite awareness campaigns, Sawai said, noting that many fall for false promises of returns.

Assistant Public Prosecutor and spokesperson Dr Rashid Obaid al Kaabi said pretrial detention is applied when necessary to safeguard investigations and ensure fairness. He added that foreigners represent the largest share of beggars and that money seized from begging cases totalled RO100,000.