RCMP re-open investigation into shocking abuse of a Calgary cabbie
By Bill Kaufmann, Calgary Sun First posted: Tuesday, July 21, 2015 10:41 PM EDT | Updated: Wednesday, July 22, 2015 12:34 AM EDT
Mounties have re-opened an investigation into the alleged racist verbal and physical assault of a Calgary cabbie that was caught on video.
The images show Yellow Checker driver Sardar Qayyum enduring a prolonged, bigoted and threatening rant by a fare he was driving to Airdrie from Calgary in November, 2013.
The cabbie also alleges the man’s unprovoked diatribe ended with him ripping the video camera from its mounting and striking him in the chest with it.
On Tuesday, RCMP Cpl. Sharon Franks said after a recent complaint by Qayyum, the force is re-visiting the case, though she added the cabbie had reported the incident in December, 2013.
“It’s an unfortunate circumstance — we weren’t fully aware of his concerns,” she said.
“He didn’t feel his file was dealt with and as a result, it’s been re-assigned.”
No charges have yet been laid.
Canadian citizen Qayyum, 35, said the abusive fare wanted to stop for some fast food on the way home, even though the time on his taxi chit was running out.
But even after he agreed to meet the request, the man kept browbeating him with vulgarities and racist taunts.
“You try to f--- me, you f------ Paki,” the man, sitting next to Qayyum, yells at him.
“Go back to where you’re from, take your wife and four kids ... I feel sorry for your kids brought up not to learn to live in Canada how we live in Canada.”
The man, seemingly drunk, also accuses Qayyum, who originally hails from Pakistani Kashmir, of being a terrorist.
“Are you going to strap a bomb to your body?” he said.
“How can you sleep at night — do you just think about bombs blowing s--- up?”
Qayyum told Global News he felt helpless during the onslaught, couldn’t eat for a week afterward and is still traumatized by the incident.
He also said he was devastated that police hadn’t dealt with the incident.
Racist onslaughts aimed at taxi drivers aren’t a rarity, said Kurt Enders, president of Checker Yellow Cabs.
“It happens, not always to that extent but more than people think,” he said.
“I hope people think before they treat drivers like this.”
RCMP re-open investigation into shocking abuse of a Calgary cabbie | Canada | Ne
By Bill Kaufmann, Calgary Sun First posted: Tuesday, July 21, 2015 10:41 PM EDT | Updated: Wednesday, July 22, 2015 12:34 AM EDT
Mounties have re-opened an investigation into the alleged racist verbal and physical assault of a Calgary cabbie that was caught on video.
The images show Yellow Checker driver Sardar Qayyum enduring a prolonged, bigoted and threatening rant by a fare he was driving to Airdrie from Calgary in November, 2013.
The cabbie also alleges the man’s unprovoked diatribe ended with him ripping the video camera from its mounting and striking him in the chest with it.
On Tuesday, RCMP Cpl. Sharon Franks said after a recent complaint by Qayyum, the force is re-visiting the case, though she added the cabbie had reported the incident in December, 2013.
“It’s an unfortunate circumstance — we weren’t fully aware of his concerns,” she said.
“He didn’t feel his file was dealt with and as a result, it’s been re-assigned.”
No charges have yet been laid.
Canadian citizen Qayyum, 35, said the abusive fare wanted to stop for some fast food on the way home, even though the time on his taxi chit was running out.
But even after he agreed to meet the request, the man kept browbeating him with vulgarities and racist taunts.
“You try to f--- me, you f------ Paki,” the man, sitting next to Qayyum, yells at him.
“Go back to where you’re from, take your wife and four kids ... I feel sorry for your kids brought up not to learn to live in Canada how we live in Canada.”
The man, seemingly drunk, also accuses Qayyum, who originally hails from Pakistani Kashmir, of being a terrorist.
“Are you going to strap a bomb to your body?” he said.
“How can you sleep at night — do you just think about bombs blowing s--- up?”
Qayyum told Global News he felt helpless during the onslaught, couldn’t eat for a week afterward and is still traumatized by the incident.
He also said he was devastated that police hadn’t dealt with the incident.
Racist onslaughts aimed at taxi drivers aren’t a rarity, said Kurt Enders, president of Checker Yellow Cabs.
“It happens, not always to that extent but more than people think,” he said.
“I hope people think before they treat drivers like this.”
RCMP re-open investigation into shocking abuse of a Calgary cabbie | Canada | Ne