New law cracks down on manslaughter, fake debt claims
Under the new provisions, unintentional offenses now include acts committed in a reckless or negligent manner that a reasonable person would avoid.
Minister of Justice Nasser Al-Sumait said the Cabinet has approved a draft decree-law amending Penal Code No. 16 of 1960 to strengthen penalties for manslaughter and accidental injury, aiming to deter violations and protect public rights.
Al-Sumait said the amendments address legal gaps revealed through years of practice. The Penal Code had not been substantially updated in this regard since 1960, despite increasing cases of negligence—especially those involving intoxication or failure to provide aid—that result in serious injury or death, according Al-Qabas daily.
He cited 70,000 traffic accidents and 10,000 cases of permanent disability as justification for stricter penalties, noting the inadequacy of existing laws—for instance, a three-year sentence in a case where 22 workers died in a bus crash.
Under the new provisions, unintentional offenses now include acts committed in a reckless or negligent manner that a reasonable person would avoid.
Al-Sumait also announced the criminalization of deliberate manipulation of a debtor’s financial status to harm creditors. He revealed that thousands of fraudulent debt declarations had been issued via the Ministry of Justice. A new directive now prohibits issuing such declarations without proper proof.
“Our priority is to protect rights and meet international standards,” he said.
