National Taxi Association

A TAXI driver suspended for nine months after leaving two women stranded, CAN still pick up passengers after a legal query

Abdul Mohith was banned from being a cabbie by 
Welwyn Hatfield Council’s hackney carriage committee earlier in the year, but appealed to the magistrates.

As the WHT has previously reported, the magistrates decided to over-rule the councillors and suspend the 52-year-old driver for nine months.

But it is now unclear whether their decision was legally sound and an investigation is taking place.

A court official said: “There’s no result on that appeal, as there is a legal problem.

“The magistrates made a decision, but they are not sure it’s legal.

“There is no result, it is pending.”

As the driver from High Street, London Colney, is still waiting for the appeal to be resolved his Hackney Carriage licence is still valid for him to drive and pick up passengers.

source: http://www.whtimes.co.uk/news/

A council in Peterborough has welcomed the news that a court upheld its decision to refuse to give a taxi driver’s licence to a man convicted of a variety of motoring offences.

Mohammed Yasin, 40, of Peterborough, appeared before Peterborough Magistrates’ Court on July 9 to appeal against Peterborough City Council’s decision to refuse his application for a licence.

The council refused to give him a licence due to his convictions for dangerous driving, failing to stop after an accident, failing to give a name and address, two counts of driving while disqualified and resisting or obstructing a constable.

The court upheld the council’s decision and ruled that Yasin was not a “fit and proper person” to hold a Hackney carriage driver’s licence. He was ordered to pay a contribution of £200 towards costs on top of his own legal expenses.

Councillor Peter Hiller, cabinet member for housing, neighbourhoods and planning, said: “We welcome the result of this case and the confirmation that the council’s decision was the right one. “The protection of the travelling public is of paramount importance to the city council. People have the right to expect that licensed drivers are fit and proper to convey them.”

source: http://www.lynnnews.co.uk/news/regional/

A CABBIE who dumped two young women miles from home in the early hours of the morning has had his taxi licence suspended for nine months

Abdul Mohith appealed to magistrates after being banned from holding a Hackney Carriage licence by Welwyn Hatfield Council.

As the WHT reported back in February, friends Christina Lloyd, and Michelle Lally, both 24, had jumped in the cab at the Forum in Hatfield and believed they had agreed a fixed price of £40 to Old Stevenage.

West Herts Magistrates’ Court in Hemel Hempstead heard Mr Mohith believed the quoted price was an estimate and insisted he told them he would only be using the meter.

Stood at the witness stand, 52-year-old Mr Mohith said in broken English: “No fixed price, I said 100 times no fixed price, I have my hand on the Koran, I’m swearing on the Koran.”

Once the meter reached £40 the women told the court Mr Mohith, who was driving along the A1(M) at the time, slowed down enough for them to think they were going to be dumped on the hard shoulder.

The court heard the women, who were not wearing coats, were dumped at an industrial unit from where they were forced to walk home.

Barrister Peter Miller, for Welwyn Hatfield Council, said Mr Mohith, from High Street, London Colney, had changed his version of events four times and was not a fit and proper person to hold a Hackney Carriage licence, as he was not honest.

Allowing the appeal in part, chairman of the bench Priti Davda, said they felt Mr Mohith’s broken English had not helped in the dealing with the price, he had not unnecessarily prolonged the journey and they did not believe he would have stopped on the motorway.

But she added: “Leaving the two girls on their own to make their way home was not the kind of behaviour expected of a fit and proper taxi driver.” Mrs Davda lifted the permanent ban, suspending Mr Mohith’s taxi licence for nine months.

source: http://www.whtimes.co.uk/news/