BY MELVILLLE TITIULU
Magistrate Court on Thursday, April 16, imposed a $500 fine on a man found guilty of illegal selling of a knife file and wool blankets.
Jack Niu of Patonu village, Bellona Island, Renell and Bellona Province was charged with one count of hawking in a public place without hawker’s licence contrary to section 3(1) of the principal hawker’s ordinance and section 3 (2) of the Honiara City Council (Hawkers) amendment ordinance 2023.
On March 23, 2026, at about 11.45am, the HCC law enforcers spotted the accused standing in front of the Talon shop and was seen selling a knife file and a shopping bag containing wool blankets to the public.
It was later discovered that the defendant was selling a knife file at $10 and a shopping bag containing three single wool covers cost at $100 for a set of three single wool covers.
The officers then approached the defendant and invited him to follow them to the law enforcement office for further dealings. The defendant was formally arrested and charged and later released on principal bail to appear before the court on Thursday last week.
Principal Magistrate Mrs Joyceth Paile presided over the matter when it came for plea and sentencing.
The accused later pleaded guilty to the charge and was accordingly imposed a fine of $500 to be paid by Tuesday, April 28. In default of payment, the defendant is to serve a further 20-day imprisonment.
That $500 fine was imposed by the court after it took into account the defendant’s personal circumstances in reaching that fine.
According to the HCC Prosecutions Case Management officer, Mr Francis Wales, he said, “the offender is not a first-time offender”.
According to previous record, the defendant last year on a separate incident was similarly arrested and charged for selling three single bed cover blankets at $100 per sheet. He was subsequently convicted and fined $200 by a different magistrate on January 5, 2026.
Robert Madeo, HCC’s Head of the law enforcement unit, told Island Sun last week that his officers will continue to enforce this regulation by undertaking mobile patrol and observation along the township area.
Mr Madeo warns street sellers not to get involved in illegal hawking or else they will be arrested and charged.
The maximum penalty for the offence of Hawkering in a public place without a hawker’s license is $1,000. The corresponding sentence is 40-day imprisonment.
Mr Harry Bisafo is prosecuting the matter and he represented the HCC. The offender was self-represented in court.
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