A mobile court in Benin on Saturday sentenced 27 persons to three hours of community service for refusing to wear face masks, improper disposal of refuse and trading on walkways.
Chief Magistrate Rusberth Imafidon ordered that the convicts should carry out three hours of community service for two days consecutively.
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Among the convicts, 18 were sentenced for violating face masks wearing, four for improper disposal of waste while five were jailed for illegal display of wares on the walkway.
The prosecuting counsel, Mr. A. Ayo had told the court that the 27 persons were arrested at various areas within Benin metropolis for violating COVID-19 rules among other offences.
The convicts pleaded guilty to the charges and sought leniency.
The presiding chief magistrate, Mr. Rusberth Imafidon, sentenced violators of face mask and improper disposal of waste to three hours of community service for two days consecutively without an option of fine.
He also sentenced the five offenders arrested for illegal display of wares on a walkway to three hours of community service for two days.
He however gave an option of N5,000 fine.
He said the community service was in line with the Correctional Centre policy of non-custodian regulation.
He added that correctional officers would handle the offenders during the punishment period.
Daily Trust reports that the community service included clearing drains, shrubs, picking of trash, compulsory community sensitisation and cutting grass among others.
