BY MELVILLE TITIULU
A man who pleaded guilty to multiple traffic offences will be sentenced by the Magistrates’ Court on Friday this week.
Alick Sulu Misitana, 51, from Malaita Province, appeared before the court yesterday facing three charges: using an unlicensed motor vehicle, using an uninsured motor vehicle and driving without a valid driver’s licence.
Misitana pleaded guilty to all three charges.
The court heard that on April 6, 2026, between 9:30am and 10am, police officers conducting routine patrols around the Honiara Central Market area spotted a vehicle they believed to be unlicensed.
The vehicle was stopped near ITA Hardware, where officers identified the driver as Misitana and the vehicle as a white Toyota Corolla.
Checks conducted by officers from the Kukum National Traffic Unit confirmed that the vehicle license, insurance and the driver’s license were all expired.
The defendant was formally charged and later released on principal bail of $1,000.
Police Prosecutor Moffat Tei informed the court that Misitana was not a first-time offender and had previously been convicted and fined $1,700 three weeks earlier for similar traffic offences, a fine which remains unpaid.
In response, Principal Magistrate Joyceth Paile asked the prosecutor whether a warrant of default had been issued against the defendant for failing to pay the earlier fine.
The prosecutor told the court he would need to confirm the matter with the court clerk.
Principal Magistrate Paile also questioned Misitana about why he failed to pay the previous fine.
The defendant told the court he had attempted to make a partial payment of $100, but claimed the court clerk refused to accept it and did not clearly explain the due date for payment.
Misitana further explained that he relies on selling and transporting fish and chips to the Honiara Central Market as his main source of income to support himself and pay the fines.
He also apologised to the court for breaching the law.
Principal Magistrate Paile ordered the defendant to pay $500 as principal bail and reminded him that the bail was imposed to ensure his attendance at the next court hearing.
She further warned that failure to appear in court on the next date would result in forfeiture of the bail amount for failing to comply with court orders.
The matter was adjourned to Friday, May 22, at 9am for sentencing.
Moffat Tei prosecuted the matter on behalf of the Office of the Police Prosecutions Department (OPPD), while Misitana represented himself in court.
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