Ali’s release raises questions about Oman’s commitment to punishing corruption

Former Galfar Engineering and Contracting head Mohammed Ali was released in early June following a Ramadan amnesty-related pardon. Ali was sentenced in 2014 to lengthy jail terms for his part in two high-profile bribery cases, the ramifications of which run on to today. His release, and persistent reports of the authorities’ lax approach to other financial criminals, raise questions about Muscat’s commitment to punishing those convicted in corruption cases.