Oman: Muscat switches focus from handouts to graft

The steady flow of prosecutions in Omani courts relating to corruption cases has dominated headlines in the sultanate. A renewed clampdown on graft has led to the sentencing of high-profile individuals – such as the chief executive of state-owned Oman Oil Company (OOC), the managing director of Galfar Engineering & Contracting, a number of government aides, businessmen and officials at state-owned Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) (GSN) – providing compelling evidence that the government’s effort has teeth, even if it is being conducted with at least half an eye on the gallery of public opinion.