Taxi Driver Online

September 19, 2006 Tuesday

HEADLINE: Accused cabbie still on the road

BYLINE: By Adam Jupp, The Evening Chronicle

Wrangle for driver on an exposure charge

A cabbie accused of indecent exposure is still allowed to drive - because magistrates refused to hear his case. Mohammed Zafar Ui Haq, was suspended by Newcastle City Council after it emerged he had been arrested and charged with the offence.

He was taken off the roads by licensing officials as a precaution until his case was concluded. But because the hackney carriage driver appealed against the suspension, he was allowed to continue driving his cab until that appeal was heard by magistrates.

The hearing took place before JPs in Newcastle, who agreed to adjourn it until after the indecent exposure case takes place. This means Haq, of Wingrove Gardens, Fenham, Newcastle, can still work on the roads for weeks to come, despite the accusations against him.

Licensing manager Dave O'Brien said: "We were made aware of the allegations by police on June 9. "We took the decision to suspend him and he was informed by letter, which was hand-delivered to him. We're certainly not trying to make any claims of guilt in relation to the other matter.

"However, until the matter was resolved, we were seeking to suspend Mr Haq. If he's found not guilty he would be reinstated. "And if he was found to be guilty, the matter would be referred to a licensing committee, which would decide on whether he would get to keep his licence."

Haq, 37, has been a hackney carriage driver in Newcastle since 1999. He appeared before magistrates in Gateshead on the indecent exposure charge on September 15. But the case was adjourned until next month.

This means his appeal could be adjourned again when it is set to be re-heard on September 29. Newcastle City Council says it intends to appeal against the decision not to allow Haq's appeal hearing to go ahead.

Mr O'Brien said: "We will be appealing the decision and expect a date to be arranged shortly."
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