A 64-year-old man was sentenced to two imprisonment terms of 14 days each at Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts today (June 17) for assaulting two Tobacco and Alcohol Control Inspectors (TACIs) in the exercise of their duties. The two sentences are to be served concurrently. He was also fined $500 for a smoking offence.
The incident took place at Tai Shing Street Market Cooked Food Centre, Wong Tai Sin, on February 25, 2019. The man assaulted two TACIs when he was being issued a Fixed Penalty Notice by the TACIs 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 requirements and to co-operate with law enforcement officers.
"Threatening 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 three cases of assaulting TACIs in 2019. Since 2007, 89 cases have been recorded and 22 out of 76 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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