Market authority eyes tough penalty against violent offenders

THE Kokopo Market Authority is to start taking tougher actions against violent offenders at the market.
Acting market manager Mari Canisius told The National yesterday that actions included a K50 spot fine and police involvement.
“The market is not a place where you can go and create problems,” Canisius said.
Canisius said a number of violent cases were reported at the market in December and last month.
Authorities have not caught anyone chewing betel nuts or throwing rubbish indiscriminately at the market because the market authority had been doing awareness on a daily basis, Canisius said.
“However, violent offences are on rise so I am warning the public to sort out their personal problems at the right place and not at the market area,” Canisius said.
He said the spot-fine for chewing betel nuts and throwing of rubbish was K20.