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Man sentenced for assaulting tobacco control inspector

10 February 2015

A 66-year-old man was sentenced in the Fanling Magistrates' Courts today (February 10) to 120 hours of Community Service Orders for assaulting a Tobacco Control Inspector (TCI) and wilfully obstructing a public officer in the exercise of his duty. He was also charged a fixed penalty of $1,500 for a smoking offence.

The incident took place at Wai Ming Street Garden at Fanling on September 25, 2014. The man assaulted a 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, there have been two cases of assaulting TCIs in 2015. Since 2007, 64 cases have been recorded and 14 out of 54 offenders convicted of assaulting TCIs were sentenced to immediate imprisonment. The maximum penalty meted out by the court to date was immediate imprisonment for four months.