Bus driver and conductor fined for over charging bus fare

The Honiara City Council (HCC) Law Enforcement Division is urging the public to remain vigilant after a bus driver and his conductor were arrested and fined for illegally overcharging passengers.

The pair appeared before the Honiara Magistrate Court on 13 November 2025 and were each fined $2,000, totaling $4,000.

According to the report, the complainant boarded the bus at the Central Market bus stop.

The bus was displaying its approved route from Central Market to King George VI.

Despite the passenger getting off at the National Referral Hospital, a shorter distance, the conductor still demanded a $5 fare. 

This clearly breached the HCC regulation of the Business License Ordinance 2011, which regulates all fares and routes for public buses operating within the city.

Law Enforcement officers investigated the matter, verified the complaint, and confirmed that the operators knowingly overcharged the passenger. 

The court’s decision should serve as a firm warning to all bus operators to strictly follow fare regulations and approved routes.

Director of Law Enforcement, Mr. Robert Madeo, highlighted that the Council will not tolerate dishonest practices that take advantage of the travelling public.

He called on Honiara residents to continue reporting any similar incidents.

“We need the public’s support to stop these practices once and for all. If you experience or witness overcharging, report it immediately to our office,” Mr. Madeo said.

The HCC Law Enforcement Division will continue monitoring bus operations across Honiara to ensure fairness, compliance, and public safety.

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HCC statement