Muscat: Oman’s Public Prosecution is investigating 17 Haj tour operators over 390 fake medical forms as well as duping 753 Omani pilgrims.
An official at the Public Prosecution told Gulf News that more than a hundred pilgrims filed complaints against the operators so far.
More pilgrims are expected to file complaints against the operators, the official said.
The fake Haj operators will face jail terms of between 3 years to 15 years for forging medical forms, according to the article 20 of the Omani Penal Code.
They also will face three months to two years jail term for duping pilgrims.
That came after 753 pilgrims paid more than 900,000 rials (Dh8.58 million) to 11 Haj operators only to find out later that they had been provided with fake Haj permits.
Omani pilgrims were stuck at Batha border post of Saudi Arabia for more than five days last week as they headed to Makkah to perform Haj.
The Ministry of Endowment and Religious Affairs said that Saudi authorities did not allow them to enter the country as they didn’t have Haj permits, which are must for all GCC nationals.
Thirteen operators were barred from the list this year due to violations, an official at the ministry told Gulf News.
More than 15 tour operators were under the scanner, according to officials from the ministry.
The public prosecution summoned Haj operators and legal action has been taken against them.
Thirteen operators were barred from the list this year due to violations, an official at the ministry told Gulf News
More than 100 cases were registered against Haj tour operators for violating rules earlier this year. It included bribery, forgery as well as fake tour plans.
From Oman, 11,200 pilgrims, including 10,015 nationals, 580 Arab pilgrims and 605 non-Arab pilgrims will perform Haj this year.
Saudi authorities said that obtaining Haj permits is must for all GCC nationals before leaving their countries.
