MOBUSCO headmaster fined for environmental offence

Suhum (E/R), June 15, GNA - The Headmaster of Modern Business College (MOBUSCO) at Suhum in the Eastern Region, Bright Mumuni has been fined 200,000 cedis by a magistrate's court at Suhum for committing various environmental offences and refusing to attend court. In addition, the court has also ordered the accused person to pay 250,000 cedis to the environmental offices and the police to defray some expenses incurred during his arrest or in default, serve three months imprisonment.

Mumuni, 48, who initially pleaded not guilty to the charge of indiscriminate disposal of offensive wastewater at a public place, later changed his plea to guilty.

Prosecuting, Mr Philip Tawiah, Principal Environmental Officer, told the court presided over by Mr E.M. Essandoh that on March 23, this year, health inspectors, Mr Johnny Apedego, Philip Zutunu and Nicholas Ahiatsi on their normal rounds entered the school compound and during inspection, detected that the school had indiscriminately disposed of offensive waste water on a road behind the school compound.

He said the accused was invited for advice, but he refused. A summons was issue to him to attend court but he refused and a bench warrant was issued for his arrest but resisted arrest.

The prosecution said it took the District Commander of Police, Mr S Y Nyarko and five policemen to go to the school to arrest him. The Presiding Magistrate, Mr Essandoh expressed concerned about the situation and said as a teacher, the accused should have known better and should not have waited for environmental officers to ask him to keep his environment clean.