Man jailed 2 years for stealing a dustbin

  A Circuit Court in Nkawie, in the Ashanti Region presided over by his Lordship Michael Abbey, yesterday sentenced a 48 - year scrap dealer by name Mohammed Lufai to 24 months imprisonment on Tuesday September 25, 2018; for stealing a dustbin that belonged to the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA).

   The accused who pleaded guilty, broke in tears and pleaded with the court for pardon. Lufai told the court that he found the dustbin on a refuse dump at K.O. and thought it was no longer useful. 

The alleged theft which took place on September 22, 2018, led to the arrest of Lufai by the Suame District Police Commander after an eye witness raised an alarm. 

   Police prosecutor, Inspector Stephen Amugbel told the court that there has been series of thefts of the waste bins recently installed by the city authorities, hindering the success of the "Keep Kumasi Clean and Green" campaign aimed at restoring Kumasi to its past accolade as the Garden city of West Africa. The prosecutor told the court that, the prosecution of Lufai would serve as a deterrent to others who intend to engage in similar acts.

   At the end of the hearing, His Lordship Michael Abbey sentenced the accused to a 24-month imprisonment in hard labour. Lord Abbey told the court that the sentence was to serve as a deterrent.

Tears flowed today at Nkawie Circuit Court in Ashanti Region after a judge handed a 48-year-old scrap dealer a 24-month jail term for stealing a waste bin.

The father of four, Mohammed Rufai, was arrested at Ashanti New Town K.O. where he was said to have committed the offence.

His arrest follows reports by city authorities that 10 out of 500 waste bins placed at vantage points in the metropolis have been stolen.

The bins were donated by Fidelity Bank to the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) in support of the Clean and Green Project to keep Kumasi clean.

In some areas, however, the bins have suddenly disappeared amid public complains there are not enough waste collection containers in the city.

Mohammed Rufai was caught after he removed one at Ashtown K.O.

According to Luv News, Mr Rufai went on his knees in tears to beg the Court for forgiveness, having pleaded guilty with an explanation after he was charged with stealing.

"Please have mercy on me, I'm not a thief, I can say that to the glory of God. I found the waste bin on a refuse dump at the Race Course and I thought it has been discarded.