Business

Wedding firm boss ordered to cough up compensation for dumping rubbish

By Emylie Howie

Copyright dailyrecord

Wedding firm boss ordered to cough up compensation for dumping rubbish

East Renfrewshire Council is to be reimbursed the cash it had to fork out to clear up dumped waste. Abdul Zafar, who owns VIP Functions – a wedding decor company – was caught using his work van to dump waste on land owned by the local authority in July 2023. A dog walker caught the 41-year-old dumping “numerous black bags” of rubbish on land near to East Renfrewshire Council Cricket Club. After appearing at court, the father-of-three has now been ordered to pay compensation to the local authority. Paisley Sheriff Court heard: “Around 10.15pm on July 15, 2023, witnesses within the car park at East Renfrewshire Cricket Club (ERC) observed a white van with the logo VIP Functions, parked in wasteground, backed up at a wooded area. “They observed the accused to empty numerous black bags, dumping them next to some bushes. The witnesses spoke with another dog walker who stated he had challenged the accused. “This witness stated the accused told him it was just soil within the bags. The incident was captured on a mobile phone and the accused drove off in the van. “Police were contacted and they attended at the accused’s home address on numerous occasions but he was never present. The cost of the clear-up by East Renfrewshire Council’s neighbourhood service team was £551.40.” The court heard Zafar had spent two weeks in custody regarding the incident after he previously failed to appear at a trial hearing. The crook then admitted at a later trial hearing that he did “deposit controlled waste” on land at ERC Cricket Club in Giffnock’s Berryhill Drive. Zafar’s defence agent told the court the “offence speaks for itself”. He added: “He runs a wedding business and a restaurant business. It was bags of soil he was dumping. He has no real excuse. It was soil from his garden and it was at a grassy area with bushes near to the cricket club. “If the court finds a financial penalty appropriate, he offers £100 per month.” Zafar sniggered in the dock which was caught by Sheriff Clare Arias, who stated: “Do you think this is funny?” Within the dock, Zafar stated: “I’m no laughing.” Sheriff Arias was also unsatisfied with Zafar’s offer of £100 per month stating: “So, if he has two businesses, can he do any better than £100 per month?” Zafar’s defence agent explained that his time in custody had a “significant impact on his business and that the restaurant is not yet open”. Sheriff Arias slammed: “Two weeks. Two weeks he was in custody and I’m told he has two businesses and can’t do any better than £100.” Zafar, of Fernleigh Road, Glasgow, was ordered to pay £551.40 to East Renfrewshire Council. Sheriff Arias stated: “That is money that you owe to the council for them having to tidy up what you dumped.” In addition, he was fined £640. Payments were ordered to be paid at £100 per month. Don’t miss the latest Renfrewshire headlines – you can sign up to our free daily newsletter here