Abu Dhabi cab driver clobbered over 'long route' fare

An engineer has admitted punching a taxi driver who he believed was taking him on a long route home.

The British expat had been out drinking when he got into the Pakistani cabbie’s car in the early hours of Friday, June 22.

He admits later attacking the driver, but denies cutting the man’s lip. The Brit says the blood on the cabbie’s face, which was seen by police officers called to deal with the fracas, may have come from his own hand, which he cut on the driver’s teeth.

The accused appeared before a judge at Abu Dhabi Criminal Court yesterday and admitted that he punched the cabbie on the way back to his villa in Khalifa City A, about 25km from the city centre.

The Brit was released on bail until his next court appearance on July 9. 

The defendant claims the attack began when he accused the taxi driver of taking him on a long route home in an attempt to run up a bigger fare. He says he told the driver to stop the car, yelled at him and punched him in the ensuing argument.

The driver called the police, who took the defendant to Khalidiya police station, where he was detained for several days before he being transferred to Al Watba prison.

His friends have since paid more than Dhs3,000 in compensation to the taxi driver and the defendant has apologised for his actions.

sean@7days.ae