Four fined for street vending

By JACINTA COHLEE
FOUR men were court fined K300 each by the Lae District Court or risk three months imprisonment after the court found them guilty of street vending (selling in public places).
Magistrate Pious Tapil raised concern that the offence committed by Wilson William, 18, from Usa village, Kagua, Southern Highlands; Sam Mack, from Goamuk village, Chimbu; Raymond Yapa, 21, from Toya village, Pangia, Southern Highlands; and, James Dowe, 22, from Mondia bridge, Chimbu; was increasingly prevalent.
“Lae main market and public bus stops has become the hot spot of selling marijuana, illicit alcohol and other illegal activities and it is prevalent offence,” Magistrate Tapil said.
He told the defendants that even though they had come into the city recently, they had to respect the law and not commit offences.
“Many of you have confirmed in court that you were in Lae recently,” he said.
“If you think that you cannot live and sustain your life in the city, then you should make your way home to your province of origin.”
Magistrate Tapil told Yapa that even though he was struggling to survive in the city, that did not give him the right to sell items in public areas.
Mack explained that he was forced to sell items for a living as this was his only means of support.
Magistrate Tapil reminded each man that engaging in street vending was against Section Five of Lae Urban Local Level Government Act – Trading in public place Law No.5 of 2005.