Dropped lychee seed leads to suspended jail term
A 53-year-man was yesterday given a suspended one-month jail sentence for assaulting a public officer after he was caught dropping a lychee seed in the street.
The man, whose name was not released, was seen dropping the seed in San Tsuen Street, Tsuen Wan, on June 18. When an officer asked for his personal details he refused to co-operate and assaulted the officer.
At Tsuen Wan court yesterday he was fined $600 for littering and sentenced to one month's jail, suspended for 18 months, on a charge of obstructing and assaulting a public officer while being served a fixed penalty ticket.
A spokesman for the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department yesterday called on litterbugs to co-operate with public officers who have the power to issue summonses or fixed penalty notices against offenders.
Condemning the use of violence, the spokesman said: 'The resort to force is not only wrong but also carries serious legal consequences. If anyone feels aggrieved, he should contest his legal liability in court.'
Since the new fixed-penalty littering law took effect in June, at least five minor assault cases have been reported.
In July, six public officers required medical treatment and police assistance in two separate incidents after they attempted to impose fines on two men who allegedly dropped cigarette butts in the street in Kwun Tong and Tai Po.
