I thnk the legislation up here gives the council nine months to 'determine' any application or renewal, so they've obviously been delaying the decision in the hope the criminal stuff would have been done and dusted, to no avail...
And another slightly dodgy statment from the chair about the 'presumption of innocence', or at least looks to me a bit dodgy
Glasgow private hire driver facing assault trial gets new licencehttps://www.glasgowlive.co.uk/news/glas ... g-32218885The driver, who is set to go on trial next month, had asked for the application to be continued, but Glasgow's licensing committee said a decision needed to be made.A Glasgow private hire car driver who was charged with assault after his passenger allegedly broke her leg has been granted a new licence.
Police Scotland objected to Iqbal Akhtar’s bid due to his pending case, which follows an alleged incident in December 2022.
The city’s licensing committee had twice continued the application for an update on criminal proceedings, but agreed to renew the licence for three years yesterday (Wednesday).
Mr Akhtar’s solicitor asked for a third continuation until after his client’s trial, which has now been set for September 15. He said: “It is quite difficult to resolve this matter prior to the trial.”
Cllr Alex Wilson, SNP, who chairs the licensing committee, said: “We don’t have time to continue this so we are going to hear this case today based on the information that we have got.”
He said it was “very much a subjudice case” and the committee had to decide whether “we think he is a fit and proper person in the meantime”.
“We will take into account the information Police Scotland are going to read out and we will also take into account that no decisions have been made yet, on the assumption that people are innocent until proven guilty,” Cllr Wilson added.
A representative for Police Scotland confirmed a trial date has been set for September 15 this year. He said the applicant faces two charges: assault to severe injury and failing to stop and provide his name and address.
The committee heard how the alleged incident occurred on December 22, 2022, when Mr Akhtar was working as a private hire driver.
It is alleged he “accelerated at speed in a public car park” while a customer was next to the vehicle, causing “her to be dragged or fall and break her leg”.
Cllr Wilson said Police Scotland would be able to make a further complaint to the committee if Mr Akhtar was found guilty.
The committee had previously continued the application in March and June this year.
Login
Register
FAQ
