Taxi company fined over one of its directors

A South Tyneside taxi firm has been fined for failing to declare a previously-banned taxi driver with a criminal record as one of its directors.

Redline Taxis of South Shields applied for a licence to operate a private hire business in Gateshead in November 2016, declaring it had two company directors – Mohsin Kahn and Mohammed Iqbal Malik.

But after a search of Companies House records, Gateshead Council uncovered an undisclosed third company director – Amjed Iqbal Malik. Amjed Iqbal Malik was previously licensed as a hackney carriage and private hire driver by Gateshead Council, but in December 2011 had his licence revoked his licence in light of a number of criminal convictions.

Licensing officers with the authority were concerned Redline Taxis deliberately hid Mr Malik’s involvement in the business, and invited the two directors to interview to explain.

Mohammed Iqbal Malik attended the interview with his legal representative and presented a pre-prepared statement – but declined to answer any questions.

Moshin Kahn was not even in the UK as his leave to remain had expired more than three years previously.

Redline Taxis pleaded guilty to knowingly omitting material information in an application for a licence at Gateshead Magistrates’ Court on March 14 and were fined £900, with a £90 victim surcharge and costs of £550 awarded against them.