Indian-origin cabbie defrauds, abuses disabled passengers

A Melbourne taxi driver, Jarnail Singh, has been exposed for systematically mistreating and defrauding disabled passengers. The shocking discovery came after authorities arrested Singh for drink-driving while on duty. A joint investigation by The Age and 60 Minutes revealed disturbing CCTV footage of Singh assaulting vulnerable passengers, failing to secure wheelchairs, and overcharging for trips he did not complete.

Singh, an employee of 13cabs, pled guilty to 499 offences, including fraud and assault. The investigation began when police arrested him for driving under the influence. CCTV footage from his taxi revealed a pattern of abuse, with Singh slapping a female passenger’s head and failing to secure wheelchairs properly. He was also found to overcharge passengers by manipulating taxi meters and activating accounts without passengers in the vehicle.

The case has sparked widespread condemnation from disability advocates and consumer rights groups. Authorities are calling for urgent reforms to the taxi industry to prevent similar abuses. Australia's Disability Discrimination Commissioner, Rosemary Kayess, criticized the lack of oversight within the industry, urging reforms to protect vulnerable passengers. The investigation also revealed significant gaps in the fraud detection systems of 13cabs, allowing Singh’s crimes to go unnoticed for so long.

Calls for stricter regulations are growing. Magistrate Kieran Gilligan, who sentenced Singh to a community correction order and fine, stressed the need for harsher penalties in the taxi industry. The case highlights a broader issue of mistreatment and fraud in the taxi sector, with calls for mandatory safety checks, audits, and working CCTV cameras in all taxis.

Advocates argue that the government must step in to enforce strict oversight if the industry does not regulate itself effectively.

Indian Link. (2025, February 19). Indian-origin cabbie defrauds, abuses disabled passengers. Indian Link. https://www.indianlink.com.au/indian-origin-taxi-driver-caught-defrauding-abusing-disabled-passengers-jarnail-singh/