******************************************************
A 45-year-old man was sentenced to immediate imprisonment for two weeks in Eastern Magistrates' Courts today (May 26) for assaulting a Tobacco Control Inspector (TCI).
The incident took place at Sheung Wan Municipal Services Building Cooked Food Centre in Sheung Wan on April 22. 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 four cases of assaulting TCIs in 2016. Since 2007, 74 cases have been recorded and 17 out of 65 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/Thursday, May 26, 2016
Issued at HKT 16:10
NNNN
