BY MELVILLE TITIULU
The Magistrate Court has given a one-year good behaviour bond for a woman found guilty of illegally selling food in public.
Lilly Misipa was charged with one count of Hawking in a public place without hawker’s license contrary to section 3(1) of the principal hawker’s ordinance and section 3 (2) of the Honiara City Council (Hawkers) amendment ordinance 2023.
It was alleged that on April 15, 2026, at about 12.39pm, law enforcement officers were on mobile patrol observation along the township area. Whilst on patrol, they saw a female person later to be known as Lily Misipa sitting in front of the Ministry of Housing and Lands fence selling 33 coconut cakes cost at $2 per coconut cake and 10 cooked (Motu) Taro at $10 per motu taro to the public.
The officers approached the defendant and invited her to follow them to the law enforcement office for further dealings. Later she was formally charged and was later released on principal bail.
The defendant was reminded of her constitutional right to seek legal representation but had opted to be self-represented in court.
Principal Magistrate, Joyceth Paile presided over the matter when it came for sentencing on Monday this week.
In sentencing, the court imposed a good behavior bond on the defendant to be imposed for a period of 1 year. This comes after the court took into account her personal circumstances in reaching that good behavior bond.
However, on condition that within that one-year period, the defendant must not reoffend. In default of the condition, she will have to pay $400 as a penalty fine.
Mr Robert Madeo, HCC Head of the law enforcement unit, warns street sellers not to involve in illegal hawking or they will be arrested and charged.
A street seller who requested anonymity, illegally sells her Fish and Chips in front of the Kingsly area at Point Cruz, told Island Sun that street selling has financially helped her to support her children’s school fees.
The maximum penalty for the offence of Hawking in a public place without a hawker’s license is $1,000. The corresponding sentence is 40-day imprisonment.
Mr Harry Bisafo who prosecuted the case, represented the Honiara City Council while the offender was self-represented in court.
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