Indian Community in Australia

On Thursday 14 June 2018 , The Ballarat court has charged former Indian taxi driver for sexually assaulting a female passenger.

On 10^th June 2017, the taxi driver picked up a female passenger in his taxi at midnight. At the drop-off location he asked the female passenger for a hug, to which she replied “yeah whatever”  After the hug outside the taxi, Mr singh kissed the young passenger on her lips and then started moving down her neck to kiss her on her breast.

The complainant pulled away immediately and run to her house. Inside her bedroom she saw bite on her breast and talked with her friends on social media. Friends encouraged her to make complaint to police.

In finding the charge proven, magistrate said Singh should have known better in his position as a taxi driver.

“I find your conduct despicable as a professional taxi driver. It was not open to you to use your position as a professional taxi driver to prey on a young and vulnerable female in the dark hours of the night,” he said.

“You knew she had been drinking, you knew she was young, you should not have asked her for a hug. That’s not the charge but it’s appalling conduct.”

Defence barrister Gordon Chisholm said his client had no prior convictions and had never received a complaint while working as a taxi driver.

He said Singh had stopped driving taxis after he was charged and would never drive one again.

Mr Chisholm said a conviction against the father-of-two would make it difficult for him to gain permanent residency in Australia.

But Mr Robinson said the offence was too serious, saying young people relying on taxis to get home should not be subjected to this type of conduct.

Singh was convicted and fined $7500. A DNA sample already provided to Victoria Police will be retained, despite Singh opposing the application.

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