BY MELVILLLE TITIULU
The Magistrates’ Court has fined a man $300 for illegally selling bottles of mineral water within the limits of the Honiara Town boundaries without a valid hawker’s license.
Lazarus Teiba, of Takaranga village, Wagina, Choiseul Province, was charged with one count of Hawking in a public place without a 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.
The court heard Teiba was formally arrested and charged on April 15, 2026, after the HCC law enforcers spotted him selling 9 bottles of 1.5 litres of VFresh mineral water to members of the public at the Tuvaruhu bus stop along the Lower Holy Cross car park area.
The defendant failed to appear during his previous court appearances, prompting the court to issue a warrant for his arrest.
HCC law enforcement officers executed the warrant on Monday this week, leading to his re-arrest and appearance before the court to enter his plea.
Principal Magistrate Ben Alasia presided over the matter during sentencing earlier this week.
Mr Teiba pleaded guilty to the charge and was ordered to pay a fine of $300 by 9 am on Monday, May 25.
In default of payment, the defendant is to serve a further 1-month imprisonment at the Rove Correctional Centre.
That $300 fine was imposed by the court after it took into account the defendant’s personal circumstances in reaching that fine.
Francis Wales, case manager from the HCC Prosecution office, told Island Sun yesterday that those who normally sell water bottles along the street, mainly outside the Magistrate court, have special exemptions and are issued licenses under the Persons with special disability initiative, granted specifically to disabled people as a means to earn something to make a living.
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 days’ imprisonment.
The Head of HCC Law Enforcement Unit, Robert Madeo, told Island Sun that officers will continue to enforce the regulation through mobile patrols and monitoring within the Honiara township area.
Mr Madeo also warns street vendors against engaging in illegal hawking activities, saying offenders will be arrested and charged.
Mr Harry Bisafo prosecuted the matter, and he represented the HCC and the offender was self-represented in court.
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