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Two smokers were convicted today (July 8) for assaulting Tobacco Control Inspectors (TCIs).
In the first case, a 51-year-old man was convicted by the Kowloon City Magistrates' Court for assaulting two TCIs. The man was sentenced to four weeks' imprisonment for common assault and was also ordered to pay $1,300 in compensation to the inspectors concerned. Before the sentence was handed down today, the man had already paid $1,500 for the smoking offence.
The incident took place in a billiard establishment called Sun Mong Snooker in Hung Hom on March 4, 2011. The man assaulted two TCIs when a team of inspectors was inspecting the premises. He was subsequently arrested and charged by the Police.
In the second case, a 68-year-old man was sentenced by the Fanling Magistrates' Courts to 12 days' imprisonment each for assaulting a TCI and for indecency in public, to be executed concurrently. He was also fined $2,000 for the smoking offence and fined $2,000 for failing to produce his identity card.
The man indecently exposed part of his body and later assaulted a TCI when a team of TCIs was requesting the man to produce his identity card for issuing a fixed penalty notice for a smoking offence at Tai Po Central Town Square in Tai Po on January 30, 2011. He was subsequently arrested and charged by the Police.
A spokesman for the Department of Health urged the public to observe 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.
Ends/Friday, July 8, 2011
Issued at HKT 19:37
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