BY MELVILLE TITIULU
The Magistrate Court on Friday, April 17, imposed a fine of $600 on a woman found guilty of illegally selling betelnut and cigarettes in restricted public areas.
Rose Sauna of Fiu Village, Central Kwara’ae, Malaita Province was charged with two counts of charges.
The first count is in relation to hawking in a public place without a 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.
The second count is in relation to the selling of betelnut in a betelnut free zone contrary to section 7(b) of the Honiara City Council (betel nut) ordinance 2023.
It was alleged that on March 16, 2026 at about 10.50am, in a public place in front of the Casino Pokies Club area at Point Cruz in Honiara, Mrs Sauna unlawfully carried about in a manner as for sale to the general public, 20 rolls of Pall Mall cigarettes at $2 per roll without a Hawker’s licence.
It was later discovered that on the same date, time and location that the defendant was also selling 25 fruit betelnuts at $2 per fruit betelnut and 23 fruit leaves at $1 per fruit leaf, in a betelnut free zone which is prohibited.
The accused was arrested on March 16, 2026, and was supposed to appear in court. However, she failed to appear in court.
The HCC law enforcement officers later executed a warrant of arrest on Friday, April 17, which led to her rearrest.
The defendant was brought to attend court on the afternoon of that day.
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.
Whereas, the objective of the Betelnut Free Zone Ordinance 2023 is to regulate the sale and consumption of betelnut and betelnut products within the Honiara City.
The ordinance itself makes it an offence to sale, consume, spit, chew betelnut and litter anywhere in a betelnut-free zone (HCC designated areas).
Principal Magistrate Mrs Joyceth Paile presided over the matter when it came for plea and sentencing last Friday.
The accused pleaded guilty to those charges. Accordingly, the court imposed a fine of $600 to be paid by April 30.
In default of payment, she will serve 30-day imprisonment.
Harry Bisafo is prosecuting the matter and he represented the HCC while the offender was self-represented in court.
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