A devastating incident has left a family mourning the loss of their 11-year-old daughter on her birthday. Jesmin Akter, 34, unintentionally killed her young neighbor’s daughter when she attempted to get rid of a bedbug infestation in her flat in Tower Hamlets, east London. Akter’s actions, which involved using illegally imported poison gas, resulted in a deadly outcome.

Akter, a mother of two, purchased imported aluminium phosphide from Italy to combat the bedbug issue. However, she failed to read the packaging instructions carefully and ended up distributing a lethal amount of the substance. Tragically, the poison seeped into neighboring flats, claiming the life of 11-year-old Fatha Sabrin on her 11th birthday. Another child in the building was also admitted to the hospital on that fateful day in December 2021.

In court, Akter admitted to manslaughter by committing an unlawful act and importing a regulated substance. The judge, Old Bailey Judge Alexia Durran, sentenced Akter to a suspended two-year jail term, along with 150 hours of unpaid work. Judge Durran highlighted the landlord’s inadequate response to the bedbug issue and mentioned the potential danger posed by Akter’s decision to transport the aluminium phosphide on a flight from Italy.

The judge expressed empathy for Akter’s overwhelming guilt and emphasized that the consequences of her actions would forever haunt her. The loss of Fatha Sabrin’s young life is immeasurable, and her promising future has been tragically cut short.

The incident serves as a harrowing reminder of the importance of professional pest control advice and carefully following instructions when using pest control products. Akter’s reckless decision had fatal consequences and left a lasting impact on the victims’ families and the community as a whole.

We extend our deepest sympathies to Sabrin’s family, who continue to grieve for their beloved daughter, taken from them unexpectedly and in such a cruel manner.