Taxi Driver Online

Fraudsters fail to overturn taxi licence ruling


A Charnwood Borough Council spokesman said: “We can confirm that Leicester Magistrates’ Court has upheld a council decision to revoke the Hackney driver licences of Ashraf Somani and Pyarali Somani following their convictions in court earlier this year."

LEICESTER Magistrates Court has upheld a council decision to revoke the Hackney driver licences of two convicted fraudsters.

This year, Ashraf Somani, aged 44, of White Street, Quorn, was given a suspended prison sentence of 15 months in relation to income tax fraud, possessing criminal property and fraudulently obtaining tax credits.

She was working at A1 Taxis and Charnwood Taxis in Loughborough with her husband, Zaher Somani, aged 58, a former town magistrate who owned the taxi business, and was jailed for three and a half years for a £250,000 tax fraud and money laundering operation.

His brother Pyarali Somani, aged 61, of Mayo Close, Loughborough, and taxi driver for the company, was responsible for self assessment income tax fraud and tax credits fraud totalling £60,000, and was given a suspended prison sentence of 15 months.

A Charnwood Borough Council spokesman said: “We can confirm that Leicester Magistrates’ Court has upheld a council decision to revoke the Hackney driver licences of Ashraf Somani and Pyarali Somani following their convictions in court earlier this year.

“The court supported the council’s decision that they were not fit and proper persons to hold a taxi licence.

“Ashraf Somani and Pyarali Somani were ordered to each pay £414 in costs and, under council rules, it will be three years before they can apply for a taxi licence again.”

Coun David Hayes, the council’s deputy cabinet member with responsibility for regulatory services, said: “This ruling confirms that the decision we took was entirely correct. People place their trust in taxi drivers every time they step into their vehicles so it is only right that they are fit and proper.

“If drivers fail to meet this standard then they should not be on the road and we will to take action. We are pleased the court supported our decision.”

source: http://www.loughboroughecho.net/news/lo ... ce-9548321

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin