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Man sentenced for assaulting tobacco control inspectors
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     A 61-year-old man was given concurrent sentences of two weeks' imprisonment suspended for 12 months in the Eastern Magistrates' Court today (September 16)  for two counts of assaulting Tobacco Control Inspector (TCI) and one count of obstructing a public officer in the exercise of his duty.

     The incident took place at the Admiralty Station (West) Bus Terminus on July 26, 2013. The man assaulted two TCIs and obstructed a TCI in the exercise of his duty.  The man was subsequently arrested and charged by the Police.

     A spokesman for the Department of Health urged the public to observe the smoking ban requirements and to co-operate with law enforcement officers.

     "Intimidation or use of violence on enforcement officers is a serious offence and carries serious legal consequences," the spokesman said.

     As of today, there have been six such cases of assault in 2013. Since 2007, 53 cases have been recorded and 10 out of 41 offenders convicted of assaulting TCIs have been sentenced to immediate imprisonment. The maximum penalty meted out by the court was immediate imprisonment for four months.

Ends/Monday, September 16, 2013
Issued at HKT 19:13

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