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A 51-year-old man was sentenced to 120 hours' community service in Tsuen Wan Magistrates' Court today (August 30) for assaulting a Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) officer.
The incident took place on April 26 this year. The man refused to co-operate and assaulted the FEHD officer when the officer was going to take prosecution action against him for discarding a cigarette butt near a Tai Wo Hau MTR station exit in Tsuen Wan.
An FEHD spokesman urged members of the public to comply with the Public Cleansing and Prevention of Nuisances Regulation and co-operate with law enforcement officers.
"To use force against public officers is not right and offenders will have a criminal record upon conviction. In addition, they will be subject to claims for losses arising from the absence of duty of the injured public officers through civil litigation," he added.
According to section 139 of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Chapter 132), any person who wilfully obstructs, resists, or uses abusive language to any law enforcement officer in the execution of his duties is liable to a maximum fine of $25,000 and six months' imprisonment.
Ends/Thursday, August 30, 2012
Issued at HKT 18:27
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