Would-be cabbie guilty of trying to bribe council official
A would-be cabbie who failed a driving test which would have earned him his taxi licence tried to bribe the examiner to change the result.
Mawia Mushtaq, 26, pleaded with the council officer to pass him – and offered him up to £300.
Passing the test would have helped Mushtaq, from Oldham, secure a private hire licence.
But the examiner refused, and reported the matter to his manager who then passed on the information to the police.
Mushtaq was arrested and was found guilty of bribery following a two-day trial at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court. He had denied the offence.
The incident on October 5 last year came just months after a new bribery law came into force.
Judge Foster QC handed Mushtaq, of St Thomas Street North, Coppice, a two-month curfew and a two-month suspended prison sentence after a unanimous verdict.
The case makes Oldham council one of the first local authorities in the country to successfully prosecute under the new legislation.
Coun Jean Stretton, cabinet member for neighbourhoods and devolved services, said: “First of all I’d like to congratulate the officer involved for their honesty and integrity in reporting this illegal approach.
“This conviction should send out a clear message that Oldham council will not tolerate attempts to bribe officers into issuing licences under any circumstances.
“We would like to remind anyone who would consider using these tactics that we will take action against you.”
source: http://menmedia.co.uk/manchesterevening ... l-official
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