Qatar residents who are held up at Hamad International Airport (HIA) over unpaid court fines can now pay them on the spot.

This can be done at a new Public Prosecution office that just opened at HIA, QNA reports.

Its launch is part of efforts to facilitate “swift justice and help process some of the verdicts that might prevent some passengers from leaving the country,” the news agency said.

The office has staff and a self-service kiosk that is open 24/7 and can process payments “in a matter of minutes.”

Gulf Times reports that bounced checks can also be paid off at the office.

However, the HIA branch can only handle travel bans issued by the public prosecutor’s office and not any other government authority, Attorney General Dr. Ali bin Fetais Al Marri said.

The office will also handle crimes onboard aircraft, such as smoking, not following cabin crew instructions or other matters.

Another such branch is expected to be set up at the Abu Samra crossing, near the Saudi border.

Speedier justice system

For the past few years, Qatar has been working to update its overloaded judicial system, which was formed when the population was less than a million people.

Earlier this month for example, officials announced that Qatar residents will soon receive court verdicts via SMS.

They also pledged to deliver justice more promptly as the judicial system takes steps to embrace technology.

Courts have also begun digitally archiving cases and post them online.

Thoughts?

Credit: Doha News

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