Four people have been charged and fined for smoking in prohibited areas around Suva.

The four were fined $200 each after they failed to appear in court last week.

Assistant Minister for Health and Medical Services Veena Bhatnagar has urged people to refrain from smoking in public areas.

“With regards to these offenders who failed to turn up in court, we strongly recommend they come to the Transnational Crime Unit (TCU) so that arrangement could be made for their bench warrants to be cancelled,” Ms Bhatnagar said.

“As indicated earlier, imprisonment terms have already been issued by the court.  If they desist, then they should expect to be spending time behind bars once committal warrants are issued by the court.”

Ms Bhatnagar has raised alarm over people smoking in public areas, especially in Suva.

“If we are talking about smoking in public places between the Suva Market and Suva Bus Stand area, the Transnational Crime Unit have booked more than 200 individuals last year and cases are still on the increase,” she said.

“The issue that we’ve had so far in terms of smoking in public places is simple; disobedience, ignorance and failure to adhere to the laws prohibiting the act and ignorance of ‘No-Smoking’ signs in those places will lead to fines and/or jail.”

The offence is chargeable under Section 19 of Tobacco Control Decree 63/2010.

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