Sekondi, July 15, GNA- A Sekondi Magistrate's court on Thursday sentenced three unemployed persons to two weeks imprisonment for defecating in public places.

They pleaded guilty and pleaded for leniency.

They are Papa Manu, Kojo Out and John Koomson. The fourth Nana Nkissah, who is a juvenile was granted one million cedis bail and would re-appear before a juvenile court on July 21.

The Shama Ahanta East Metropolitan Environmental Officer told the court that all the accused persons were arrested around 0900 hours at Fijai by joint environmental health staff and police personnel for defecating at an area at Fijai.

He said the exercise is meant to prevent the outbreak of cholera, dysentery and other communicable diseases in the metropolis. The judge in sentencing them said he was sad that though several others charged with similar offence were fined between 300,000 cedis and 500,000 cedis, others still patronised open places for defecation.