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A 66-year-old man who assaulted a Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) officer, occasioning him actual bodily harm, was sentenced to one month's imprisonment, suspended for 24 months, in Tuen Mun Magistrates' Courts today (February 28).
A Hawker Control Officer witnessed the man spitting on the pavement at the junction of Kai Man Path and Wo Ping Path in Tuen Mun on January 26 this year. The officer intended to issue the man with a fixed penalty notice, but he refused to co-operate and assaulted the officer.
The defendant was also fined a total of $2,500 by the court for spitting in a public place, failing to provide personal particulars and proof of identity for inspection, and obstructing the public officer in the execution of his duty.
An FEHD spokesman reminded members of the public to co-operate with law enforcement officers. 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. "To use force against public officers is not right and offenders would have a criminal record when convicted. Furthermore, the FEHD would claim from offenders losses arising from the absence of duty of the injured public officers through civil litigation," he added.
Ends/Thursday, February 28, 2013
Issued at HKT 18:19
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