Taxi Driver Online

Taxi driver cleared of Johnstone mum 'assault'


A TAXI driver has been cleared of sexually assualting a mum after he dropped her off in Johnstone.

Sheriff James Spy was also told that Shafqat Maraj made comments of a sexual nature towards three other female passengers during another taxi journey.

But after accepting that Maraj hade made an inappropriate comment to the women, he cleared him of both charges last week after ruling there was insufficient evidence to convict.

Maraj, who needed an interpreter throughout his trial, was said to have repeatedly touched the mother's thigh during a journey between Paisley and Johnstone in December 2011.

Last week we told how the woman, who can't be named for legal reasons, said she jumped out of Maraj's cab in the Thornhill area after he'd stroked her thigh for the third time.

The 37-year-old was also accused of making comments of a sexual nature towards three other women during an earlier cab fare, in November 2011.

He denied sexually assaulting the woman and behaving in a threatening or abusive manner by making lewd comments to the other three women.

The driver walked free from Paisley Sheriff Court last Friday after his lawyer, Chris McKenna, made a successful no case to answer submission.

Mr McKenna said: "It has to be proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Mr Maraj acted in a threatening or abusive manner that was likely to cause a reasonable person to suffer fear or alarm.

"Witnesses gave evidence that they felt uncomfortable by his comment.

"Making someone uncomfortable is not in itself a crime.

Referring to the sexual assault charge Mr McKenna said the Crown needed to prove that Maraj was guilty of charge one to be able to secure a conviction on charge two as it would establish a pattern of behaviour.

As he cleared Maraj, pictured right, of the two charges, Sheriff Spy said: "While I'm prepared to accept the comment was made, the issue is whether that comment in itself is sufficient to raise issues of fear or alarm in the reasonable person.

"The evidence of the three complainers at its highest is that they felt uncomfortable.

"I am of the view that there is an insufficiency of evidence for me to hold such to have caused them or a reasonable person to suffer fear or alarm."

He acquitted Maraj of both charges and the cabbie walked free from court.

http://www.the-gazette.co.uk/news/round ... m-assault/

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

Coming to an airport near you.

And what exactly is coming soon? It certainly won't be the numerous ex licensed black cab drivers with hit and run or assault convictions.

It might be a professional organization that will go on to put you and others back 20 or 30 years. That's clearly where you fit with your outdated and misguided thoughts. There are several hundred brief holders of Asian and other ethnicities working alongside you daily with many more to come. A large percentage started in PHC and seeing it isn't very difficult to pass 'the knowledge' sat the test and hey ho are now your working brothers.

It doesn't take much to be a licensed hobo cabbie Chris, you see them everyday behind the wheel of a black cab, black cause its usually unwashed. Sometimes difficult to make out who or what's driving your iconic vehicle with the numerous hobos in Beanie hats, Fedoras and joggers.

Coming to a city centre rank near you soon!

Calm doon Boab , Shafcats next misdemeaner will unlikely bring him to the airport soon for deportation.
Yes there are a lot of asians and brothers driving cabs and theres dirty cabs, dirty old men driving them with there bunnets oan, me in ma pink superdry t on and nike trainers wi ma tin flute in the boot(I only have one, prob dosent fit, put the beef on masel).
Anyway I think your confusing me with someone that gives a fvck about whos ranking,i mean in the airport pound.
Theres more stars in the sky than grains of sand.