Mathab Khan – “A Confusing And Unreliable Witness…”
Mathab Khan – who claims to be Chairman of the Hackney Carriage Association – has lost a second appeal on Friday for refusing short fares.
Mathab Khan refused a short fare to two women at 2.15am on September 27th last year during the Rugby World Cup.
Mr Khan who burst into tears during the hearing now has to serve his 10 day suspension as a Hackney Carriage driver as well as paying £1, 425 in legal costs to the City Council.
Mr Khan, 55 of Heol Esgyn in Cyncoed, was suspended by the Public Protection Committee in February this year following a complaint by two women that he refused a short fare to the Roath area of the city. His first appeal was thrown out by Cardiff Magistrates Court in April this year.
Cardiff Crown Court heard that Samantha Williams and Jacqueline O’Brien Liddiard approached Mr Khan’s taxi at 2. 15am on September 27th last year at the Churchill Way taxi rank in Cardiff City Centre.
Miss Williams said she approached Khan’s taxi and asked to go to the Claude pub in Albany Road. Khan replied, “I am booked, not far, not far”. Miss Williams responded by saying, “how can you be booked if your light is on?”
According to Miss Williams, Mr Khan then then turned his light off, wound up his car window and turned his head away from her.
Defending himself, Mr Khan, claimed that his light wasn’t on, the two women never approached his taxi had incorrectly memorised his taxi number. He also had claimed in the same defence that Miss Williams was ‘sozzled’ which was denied by Miss Williams in court.
Mr Khan said that he would never refuse a fare for being too shorter distance, especially as at that time there had been a number of high profile sex attacks in Cardiff. He then denied ever being approached by the two women and claimed to be “booked” and was waiting for Kyle John outside the taxi rank on Churchill Way.
Mr John – put forward as a witness by Mr Khan – told the court that he had pre-booked Khan’s taxi but was delayed getting to Churchill Way because it was a busy night as Wales was playing England in the Rugby World Cup.
Mr John confirmed to the court that when he arrived at the taxi rank, Mr Khan was already taking an elderly couple to Barry and that Mr Khan had told him that he had refused a fare but didn’t confirm that it was the two women. Mr John got into the taxi with the elderly couple went to Barry and was then dropped off at his address after paying Khan an additional £10 for his journey.
Speaking from the witness box – Mr Khan burst into tears – and said: “I was so hurt when I was blamed for something that I didn’t do… I am a 55 year old man with honesty and Integrity.”
Recorder Christopher Felstead told the court that “We considered Miss Williams and Miss O’Brien Liddiard to be reliable witnesses” and described Khan as a “confusing and unreliable witness at times.” Khan’s appeal was dismissed and he was ordered to pay £1, 425 in legal costs in 56 days and will serve his 10 day suspension when he is notified by the City Council.
Khan then told the court that he thought the costs against him were far too much and should be a couple of hundred pounds and that he will “appeal against the decision.”
Mr Khan has visited the Public Carriage Office in Sloper Road this morning and has handed in his taxi badge and identification. The 10 day suspension will now start which means that Mr Khan will be allowed back to work as a taxi driver at midnight on September 1st.
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