Man jailed for selling goods in public place

THE Lae District Court jailed a man six months with light labour yesterday for selling goods in a public place to discourage the practice.
John Kawage, 35, father of three and a resident of 2-Mile in Lae, is originally from Oroma village in Chuave, Chimbu. He pleaded guilty to a count of street vending in a public place before magistrate Pious Tapil.
He was selling batteries for K2 each in front of Seeto Kui Hypermart on Jan 6. Street-vending is against regulations in Lae.
The court heard that Kawage had a previous conviction for a similar offence of street vending in 2019. He was fined K300 then.
However, magistrate Tapil told him that he should have learned from his first mistake.
“Street vending has become a continuous problem for Lae City Authority and the police in terms of law and order issues in the city where a lot of people are selling things throughout the city’s main bus stops,” Tapil said.
This court has a duty to supplement the work of police to go out there arresting offenders and keeping our city clean. As a second time offender, the court will not be merciful with you but impose a deterrent sentence so that other like-minded offenders will be warned.