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Cabbie assaults transport inspector over fine in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi - He was allegedly transporting passengers illegally.

An illegal taxi driver went on trial accused of attacking an inspector from the department of transport when he handed him a fine ticket for transporting passengers illegally in the capital.
The Abu Dhabi Criminal Court of First Instance heard that the inspector had stopped the Pakistani man on one of the Abu Dhabi roads after spotting him carrying people in a private car.
When the officer issued the Pakistani a fine for illegally operating taxi services, the man beat him up and also tried to flee the scene. The official sustained minor injuries.
Authorities managed to arrest the Pakistani. The man was charged with offering illegal taxi services and assaulting a transport inspector.
Prosecutors said the Pakistani was using a private car to transport people after they paid him money.
The man denied the charges when he appeared in court.
He said he was driving a car and carrying his friends and that he never attacked any official.
The trial was adjourned until February.
The department of transport authorities has always warned that iIllegal taxis pose a great danger to safety of commuters as people driving these cars are unlicensed and may be staying in the country illegally.
These private cars are mostly driven by Asian men who charge from Dh10 per person and carry four people in a car at a time.
Those found offering such services can be fined Dh10,000 and more and jailed for up to 30 days.
ismail@khaleejtimes.com