Court releases four street vendors

A DISTRICT court in Lae struck out four street vending (selling in public places) cases on Monday due to no exhibits presented in court.
When striking out the cases for Benedick Jackson, 20, from Ekenda village in Nipa/Kutubu, Southern Highlands, Iso Pera, 26, from Karuneh village in Goroka, Eastern Highlands, Simon Kaupa, 30, from Keu village in Chuave, Chimbu and Samson Peter, 33, from Suma village in Mendi, Southern Highlands, Magistrate Jacinta Doa raised concern about court exhibits.
Magistrate Jacinta said that the court exhibits should be brought before the court to prove the elements of the charges laid.
She explained that the four cases were struck out due to no exhibits presented for the court to make a ruling.
“This is the court of evidence and if there is no evidence, then the matter will be struck out,” she said.
“Evidence should be provided in court, if no, then the matter will be struck out and the defendant will be released from police custody.”
Magistrate Jacinta said that the court could not make ruling of any cases without evidence.
However, Magistrate Jacinta said engaging in street vending was against Section 5 of Lae Urban Local Level Government Act.