SINGAPORE - A 60-year-old man has been arrested for fighting three National Environmental Agency (NEA) enforcement officers in Ubi on Monday (June 19).

The man was selling fruits without any valid licence along Arumugam Road when NEA enforcement officers spotted him at about 3.30pm that day.

When they approached him, he tried to flee but the officers stopped him, the police said in a statement on Tuesday (June 20).

The man then punched the first officer and head-butted him.

He also spat on the second officer and slammed the door of his vehicle on the hand of the third officer.

Throughout the incident, he spewed vulgarities at the three officers.

The man was later arrested by officers from Bedok Police Division.

If convicted of using criminal force against a public servant, he can be jailed up to four years and/or fined.

According to the NEA website, NEA's standard protocol requires its officers to first identify themselves and explain the infringement committed to the offenders before issuing official notices such as Notices to Attend Court.

"As NEA officers maintain a professional and firm stance throughout the engagement, this may be misconstrued as being impolite when offenders' appeals to be let off are not accepted," said the post.

NEA said on its site officers should not be obstructed from carrying out enforcement, and this includes any verbal or physical abuse by uncooperative offenders or members of the public.

The website stated: "NEA takes a serious view on the abuse of our officers and will not hesitate to work with the Singapore Police Force to take action, including criminal prosecution, against offenders who abuse our officers."

Offenders may also face additional charges on top of the environmental offences that they were caught for.