"A significant safety risk" - taxi driver loses licence after attempted fraud discovered by council officials

The council’s licensing panel removed Yasir Qudratullah's licence

A private hire driver has had his licence revoked following an Oldham Council investigation into fraudulent documents.

During the Covid pandemic councils accepted certain documents via email because offices were closed due to  restrictions on working.

In June 2020, Yasir Qudratullah, of Eton Avenue in Oldham, sent his insurance certificate and vehicle log book into the licensing team.

Officers noted that alterations had been made to the documents to make it appear that insurance was in place when it had run out.

Further investigations with the insurance company and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) confirmed this to be the case and legal proceedings against the 36-year-old were started.

Qudratullah was charged under the Fraud Act 2006 and pleaded guilty on the day of his trial.

At a sentencing hearing at Tameside Magistrates’ Court, Qudratullah was fined £80 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £34, plus council costs of £600.

The council’s licensing panel subsequently removed his licence.

Councillor Jean Stretton, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, said: “The council will not hesitate to take enforcement action against anyone who attempts to obtain a licence by deception.

“If this hadn’t been picked up by our diligent officers, members of the public would have been driven around by a man without insurance which is a significant safety risk, and one the council will not tolerate.”

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