Taxi strike organiser loses appeal over suspended licence

The Cardiff cabby who led last weekend's taxi drivers' strike has lost an appeal against the council's decision to suspend his licence for 10 days.

Mathab Khan, Chairman of the Hackney Carriage Association, had his license suspended in February following an investigation into a complaint made by two would-be passengers.

The two women had complained that Mr Khan refused to take them to Roath because it was too short a journey.

He lost his appeal today at Cardiff Magistrates' Court and was ordered to pay £250 in costs.

Just last weekend, Mr Khan led around 200 Cardiff taxi drivers out on strike between midnight and 2am.

The action took place over a council crackdown on some taxi drivers said to be refusing short fares, or overcharging.

Cardiff Council policy encourages would-be passengers to make a note of cab details and report any problems - but drivers say it has opened them up to increased abuse.

Read: Cardiff taxi drivers strike in dispute over new guidance

Today, Cardiff Magistrates' Court heard Mr Khan was at the font of the taxi rank on Churchill Way at 2.15am on February 27, with his taxi light on.

When two women asked Khan if he would take them to Claude Road in Roath, the court was told that Mr Khan replied: "Not far", before putting the window up and turning his back on them.

The witnesses identified Mr Khan through his cab and registration number, and reported the incident to the council.

The court heard Mr Khan took a fare to Barry after refusing the ‘short fare’.

The driver, who represented himself in court, told magistrates that he was booked at the time and was waiting for a “19-year-old man who didn’t turn up."

He also insisted he did not refuse fares and claimed he had been "wrongly accused", or "mixed up with someone else".

But Cardiff Council’s actions in the case were found to be ‘proportionate and appropriate’ and Mr Khan’s appeal was dismissed.