A 34-year-old man was sentenced to immediate imprisonment of 14 days by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (June 9) for assaulting three Tobacco and Alcohol Control Inspectors (TACIs) and obstructing public officers in the exercise of their duties. He was also fined $1,500 for a smoking offence and $5,000 for failing to wear a mask in a public place.
The incident took place at Pioneer Centre, Mong Kok, on September 9, 2020. The man assaulted the TACIs when he was being issued a Fixed Penalty Notice for a smoking offence. He was subsequently arrested and charged by the Police.
A spokesman for the Department of Health urged the public to observe the smoking ban and wearing of mask requirements, and co-operate with law enforcement officers.
"Threatening or using 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 TACIs in 2021. Since 2007, 102 cases have been recorded and 24 out of 86 offenders convicted for assaulting TACIs were sentenced to immediate imprisonment. The maximum penalty meted out by the court was immediate imprisonment for four months.
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