Homeless Man Jailed After BCRS Recycling Scheme Attempt
A 35-year-old homeless man, Yonathan Esseyas Affewerki, has been sentenced to two months in prison after being found guilty of living a life of idleness and vagrancy.
Police arrested Affewerki in Sliema on 10th September after discovering him asleep under a gazebo near Manoel Island with two large bags of plastic bottles. Officers noted that he appeared unkempt and that his clothing was in poor condition according to TVM.
During questioning, Affewerki explained that he had collected the bottles from Paceville to redeem them through the BCRS recycling scheme. When the machine malfunctioned, he said he chose to rest on a nearby bench.
He told authorities that he had previously lived in Ħamrun and had stayed at the YMCA shelter. A former chef, Affewerki now survives by collecting bottles and exchanging them for vouchers. He denied being homeless, insisting that he was simply resting outdoors.
Magistrate Kevan Azzopardi found him guilty of living a life of idleness and vagrancy and of failing to seek employment, but acquitted him of begging for money.
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