Taxi driver loses licence over Covid fraud claim

A taxi driver who had his licence revoked claimed that he did not know a £50,000 payment in his bank account was a Covid bounceback loan and that it was instead money gifted by a stranger.

Amar Rangzab told Bradford Magistrates' Court he had gambled the cash away rather than using it to support his business during the pandemic.

The city council stripped him of his licence after being made aware he had been charged with fraud by the Insolvency Service.

Appealing the decision, Rangzab, 33, of Clayton Road, argued he was a fit and proper person to hold a taxi licence and said he would be pleading not guilty to the fraud charges. However, magistrates rejected his appeal.

Waseem Raja, representing Bradford Council, said the authority had learned the two fraud charges related to the loan and his failure to pay it back.

Raja said Rangzab had told taxi licensing officers that the money was obtained from a person he did not know.

In evidence, Rangzab said: "I was parked in a car park having tea and having a conversation when a gentleman in another car told me he could help.

"He told me he only needed my sort code, account number and address. I gave it to him and thought 'what's the worst that could happen?'

"A few days later I was surprised to see £50,000 in my account. I didn't realise it was a bounceback loan.

"That's the story."

Asked if he was not concerned about a stranger asking for his bank details, he said: "If he asked for the long card number I would have been a bit more suspicious."

Raja said: "You're not expecting the court to believe that a man you don't know offered you money and you gave him your bank details?"

Rangzab replied: "That's exactly what happened."

He said he would be contesting the fraud charges when the case comes to court in 2027.

Steven Knighton, compliance manager for licensing at Bradford Council, told the court that when Rangzab was interviewed about the charges "the story provided to us wasn't consistent with the evidence".

Asked if the council was able to track down the generous donor Rangzab claimed had provided the money, Knighton said they could not.

He went on to say Rangzab did not provide any information that could help track down that person.

"We need to make sure people in a position of trust don't abuse that position," he said, referring to the taxi licence.

Cross examining Knighton, Rangzab said: "I never told that to the interviewing officer. It is a total lie."

He said the interviewing officer had been "manipulative" when he was being questioned, and claimed he no longer had a gambling addiction.

After deliberation, magistrates told Rangzab that his evidence was "inconsistent" and the council's evidence was "credible".

His appeal was dismissed and his licence remains revoked.

He also was ordered to pay the council costs of £420.

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