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'You should be ashamed of yourself, I'd give you jail time if I could': Judge BERATES 72-year-old man with lymph node cancer for not keeping his lawn tidy because his treatment left him too weak

  A 72-year-old man battling lymph node cancer was berated by a   Michigan   judge for failing to keep up his lawn tidy despite the fact tha...

 A 72-year-old man battling lymph node cancer was berated by a Michigan judge for failing to keep up his lawn tidy despite the fact that his medical treatments left him too weak to do yard work. 

Burhan Chowdhury, of Hamtramck, appeared in virtual court Monday over a ticket he was issued in August because the grass, brush and trees at his home had overgrown, obstructing the sidewalk and alleyway. City ordinance requires property owners to keep public walkways accessible.

'You should be ashamed of yourself,' 31st District Judge Alexis G. Krot told Chowdhury. 'If I could give you jail time on this, I would.'

The judge called Chowdhury's yard 'shameful,' instructed him to clean the yard and issued him a $100 fine to be paid by February. 

'You've got to get that cleaned up. That is totally inappropriate,' she said.

Video of the incident shows Chowdhury's son attempting to plead his father's case. He told Krot his father was very sick and the family had taken care of the lawn, however the judge continued to dismiss the family.

'That is shameful. Shameful,' she said. 'The neighbors should not have to look at that.' 

The 31st District Court did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com's request for comment.

Burhan Chowdhury, a 72-year-old battling lymph node cancer, was berated by a Michigan judge for failing to keep up his lawn tidy despite the fact that his medical treatments leave him too weak to do yard work

Burhan Chowdhury, a 72-year-old battling lymph node cancer, was berated by a Michigan judge for failing to keep up his lawn tidy despite the fact that his medical treatments leave him too weak to do yard work

Chowdhury was issued a ticket on August 2, 2021 for 'failing to keep the fence, walkway, sidewalk or alley free of trees, leaves'. City ordinance requires property owners to keep public walkways unobstructed (Pictured: Chowdhury's yard unkept last fall)

Chowdhury was issued a ticket on August 2, 2021 for 'failing to keep the fence, walkway, sidewalk or alley free of trees, leaves'. City ordinance requires property owners to keep public walkways unobstructed (Pictured: Chowdhury's yard unkept last fall)

Shibbir Chowdhury, 33, who appeared alongside Chowdhury on Zoom, told WDIV his father was diagnosed with cancer in 2019 and the treatments limit his mobility.

Since the diagnosis, Shibbir and his mother taken over property maintenance. 

Shibbir Chowdhury (pictured), usually handles property maintenance for his sick father. He said the yard became overgrown while he was in Bangladesh last fall and believes a neighbor complained to the city

Shibbir Chowdhury (pictured), usually handles property maintenance for his sick father. He said the yard became overgrown while he was in Bangladesh last fall and believes a neighbor complained to the city

However, the family faced hardship last fall while Shibbir was in Bangladesh for three months and the yard care lapsed. 

'I usually take care of the stuff in the backyard and everything, but that time I was out of the country,' Shibbir explained.

He acknowledged that the yard did violate a city ordinance and should've been more responsible regarding maintenance arrangements. However, he doesn't think that warranted the way Krot spoke to his father.

'There was really mistakes I should have taken care of that. But, yeah, still, like she should have said my father more politely,' he said. 

Chowdhury was issued a ticket on August 2, 2021 for 'failing to keep the fence, walkway, sidewalk or alley free of trees, leaves' after the city was made aware of the yard's condition.

'It was a chain reaction,' Shibbir said. 'The neighbors probably complained and took the picture that was sent to the city.'  

He said the family cleaned up the yard shortly after receiving the citation, but Chowdhury still had to appear in court to discuss the fine. 

In court Monday, District Judge Alexis G. Krot scolded Chowdhury for the condition on his yard, saying: 'You should be ashamed of yourself. If I could give you jail time on this, I would'. She issued him a $100 fine which was reportedly paid on Wednesday

In court Monday, District Judge Alexis G. Krot scolded Chowdhury for the condition on his yard, saying: 'You should be ashamed of yourself. If I could give you jail time on this, I would'. She issued him a $100 fine which was reportedly paid on Wednesday


The above image depicts Chowdhury's garage and the nearby alley as seen in June 2019. Chowdhury was diagnosed with cancer that same year, prompting Shibbir to take over yard maintenance

The above image depicts Chowdhury's garage and the nearby alley as seen in June 2019. Chowdhury was diagnosed with cancer that same year, prompting Shibbir to take over yard maintenance

During his court appearance, Chowdhury - who sounds as if he is struggling to breathe - attempted to explain the situation but the judge routinely interjected. 

'Do you see that photo?' Krot questioned, referencing a picture of the yard that was shared with the city and projected during the court appearance. 

'You have got to get that cleaned up,' she stated.

Toward the end of the exchange, Chowdhury can be heard saying: 'Oh, my God.' 

Shibbir thought Krot's message was 'really shocking' and made 'very clear' to Chowdhury, despite the fact that he doesn't speak much English. 


'She was telling my father, a sick person, that he should go to jail. That's ridiculous,' Shibbir told the Washington Post on Wednesday.    

'The way she said that my father should serve jail time for this thing really bugged me. I was really shocked by it. I didn't expect her to yell at us in this kind of a situation.' 

He added: 'You can't give a 72-year-old person jail time for not cleaning an alley.'   


Court records obtained by Insider revealed that Chowdhury's fine was paid on Wednesday.      

Shibbir said he is taken aback by the support his family received after video of the court appearance was shared online.

'People understand that a situation like this can happen with someone who is old or sick,' he said. 

'I'm really thankful to those in our city who have supported us and letting us know that they're beside us.'  

Chowdhury purchased his home in 2015, according to property records reviewed by DailyMail.com. 

The property, located in the approximately 28,000-person city neighboring Detroit, was reportedly valued at $76,200. 

Realtor websites, as of January 2022, list the estimated property value between $86,000 and $100,000, slightly above the city median house or condo value of $82,838. 

The cost of living in the small city falls below the national average and approximately 46.5 percent of residents live in poverty, City-Data.com reported in 2019. The estimated median household income at that time was $29,149.   

Hamtramck City Council aims to maintain curb appeal throughout the community, as evidenced by city code which requires property owners to maintain sidewalks, alleys and other public ways near their home.

Properties owners are required to 'remove snow, ice and filth' and keep the walkways 'free from obstructions, encroachments, encumbrances, or other nuisances'.

Failure to do so can result in a penalty to be paid by the property owner.

If the city is required to address the obstructions on behalf of the property owner or occupant, the resident would be responsible for the expenses incurred.

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