Plane toilet fracas man fined Sh200,000
What you need to know:
- Passengers’ lives were in danger after a Comoros national forced his way into toilet when aircraft was about to land at JKIA
A passenger who posed danger to the lives of fellow travellers aboard a Kenya Airways plane by forcing his way into the toilet has been fined Sh200,000 or serve a 10-month jail term in default.
Youssouf Abdou Ahmed was convicted on his own plea of guilty by Makadara resident magistrate Daniel Kinaro.
He was charged with putting the lives of passengers and crew members at risk by forcing his way into the toilet when the aircraft was about to land at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on January 6, 2011.
He was supposed to be seated.
Ahmed caused laughter when he stated: “Your honour, I had a running stomach. I could not hold any longer the alimentary canal muscles that had loosened. It was difficult for me to wait until we landed at JKIA.”
“I pleaded with an attendant who was collecting utensils from the passenger seats. He declined. Eventually, I soiled my clothes as I forced open the toilet basin. I did not even close the door due to pressure. It was stinking all over,” Ahmed said.
The Comoros citizen pleaded for mercy, saying he was aware of the danger he posed to the lives of fellow passengers and crew members.
He said that his running stomach had cost him dearly.
“I have lost the business I was going to attend to in Dubai and now I am paying heavily,” he said.
Prosecutor Kiprotich Langat, urged the court to treat the foreigner, who was in transit as a first offender on Kenyan soil.
“I do not have his past record. The offence he committed was serious since he was endangering the lives of other passengers. Treat him as a first offender in Kenya,” Mr Langat submitted.
In his judgment, Mr Kinaro told Ahmed that he subjected fellow passengers to jeopardy by forcing his way into the toilet.
“Nobody knew what you were up to when you forced your way into the washroom. It is a serious offence since the lives of passengers were in peril. You will pay a fine of Sh200,000 or serve 10 months in default.”
He was given 14 days to appeal against the sentence.
Ahmed committed the offence while on board a Kenya Airways Flight Number KQ452 from Mayette Comoros to Nairobi.
He was remanded in custody as he arranged how to pay the fine.
