15 Mar 2011
A 27-year-old man was convicted by the Tsuen Wan Magistrates' Court today (March 15) for assaulting a Tobacco Control Inspector (TCI).
The man was sentenced to 120 hours under Community Service Order for the assault and another 120 hours of community service for obstructing a public officer, executed concurrently. Before the sentence was handed down today, the man had already been fined $3,000 for his smoking offence and was remanded in custody for 14 days.
The incident took place at an internet cafe called "i-ONE" in Tsuen Wan on January 26, 2011. The man assaulted a TCI when a team of inspectors was inspecting the premises. The man was subsequently arrested and charged by the Police with Common Assault, Obstructing a Public Officer and Smoking in a No-smoking Area.
A spokesman for the Department of Health urged the public to observe smoking ban requirements and to cooperate with law enforcement officers.
"Intimidation of or use of violence on enforcement officers is a serious offence and carries serious legal consequences," the spokesman said.