Private hire driver who said he was working on the Uber app and needed cash to eat, has licence susp

A Glasgow City private hire driver who, according to a report on Evening Times, said he was working on the Uber app on the night he was caught illegally plying for hire, has had his licence suspended for eight weeks. Salah Benchiheub was spotted picking up a couple in Glasgow and taking cash from them for a fare.

He was reported to the council, who subsequently called him before enforcement officers for questioning.  At the interview he told officers he had been working for Uber on the night of the incident and admitted picking up the couple, but claimed he couldn't remember where they went. Benchiheub was then summoned to attend a full hearing with the council's licensing committee to give a full explanation. 

It emerged during the meeting that Benchiheub had previously been suspended in 2017 following a similar incident. During the hearing he told committee members that he had lost all his money at a casino and was in need of cash to buy food.

Benchiheub said: “I didn’t think about what I was doing until it had happened. I am sorry it won’t happen again.” He admitted to having a gambling problem, saying whenever he was free he would go to the casino.

Members agreed to suspend Benchiheub’s licence for eight weeks. 

Glasgow City Council told TaxiPoint: "The committee considered all of the information presented to members in relation to this case and concluded that a suspension of eight weeks was appropriate.

“Private hire drivers who pirate fares put passengers at risk. “Where there is evidence that a private hire driver has plied for hire, the Committee will always take the appropriate action. “All decisions by the Committee are based on the individual merits of an individual case.”