A Nigerian man found guilty by Tabubil District Court for selling betelnut in an unauthorised area was slapped with a K50 fine.
Nelson Emeka Okpaca of Anambara State was caught last Thursday by local police for peddling at the market adjacent to the OTML sewerage treatment plant in Tabubil, Western Province.
The expatriate appeared on Friday before Magistrate Billy Pidu.
Pidu, before handing down the court decision, told the defendant that his action was against the law and policy of the Ok Tedi Mining company, and also the country.
Okpaca was released from Police custody after paying his K50 court fine.
From the police brief presented in court, the Nigerian was selling betelnut with other locals when he was apprehended and charged under Section 9 (4) of the Informal Sector Development and Control Act 2004, and was detained at Tabubil Police station cell before appearing in court the next day.
Okpaca told the court that he had been living for five years in the province, marketing a variety of goods at Kiunga, Nigerum and Tabubil.
He said he feels comfortable doing his business because his skin colour is similar to the locals.