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A 53-year-old man was sentenced to 120 hours of Community Service Orders in Shatin Magistrates' Courts today (April 9) for assaulting a Tobacco Control Inspector (TCI) and obstructing a public officer in the exercise of his duty.
The incident took place at Sha Tin Centre in Sha Tin on January 5. The man assaulted the TCI when a team of inspectors was inspecting the premises. He 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, three cases of assaulting TCIs have been filed in 2014. Since 2007, 58 cases have been recorded and 13 out of 47 offenders convicted for assaulting TCIs were sentenced to immediate imprisonment. The maximum penalty meted out by the court was immediate imprisonment for four months.
Ends/Wednesday, April 9, 2014
Issued at HKT 16:19
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