An Indian taxi driver has suffered serious facial and head injuries besides a broken rib after he was viciously assaulted by three men in Brisbane on Sunday night.
Police said the passengers forcible removed Mr Singh* (35) from his maxi taxi when the vehicle stopped at a McDonalds and assaulted him, punching and kicking him including to his head and face whilst he was on the ground.
The driver managed to send a distress signal and when the police arrived two of the assailants were allegedly standing over Mr Singh who was unconscious.
The victim has been receiving treatment at the Royal Brisbane and Women Hospital for serious head and facial injuries.
The two men were arrested at the scene and the third was arrested later. They have been charged with assault occasioning bodily harm whilst adversely affected by an intoxicating substance.
Manjit Boparai, a social activist visited Mr Singh in the hospital said he is likely to be discharged soon.
“I have been told he would be discharged tomorrow, but I don’t think he will be able to return to work any time soon. He suffered horrific injuries to his face and also has a broken rib. Those might heal soon, but the trauma stays,” Mr Boparai – himself a taxi driver – told SBS Punjabi.
He said it could be weeks before Mr Singh will be able to get behind the wheel again.
“He has a young family and a mortgage to pay. So, we are going to band together to raise a few thousand dollars. I have also spoken to the police and because he’s a victim of crime, there’s a policy to help such people,” he said.
Mr Boparai said such incidents were getting “far too common” and that laws were “lax”.
“Almost every taxi driver has been through such experiences and we feel unsafe at work. The government should do something – toughen up the laws so that we can go about doing our jobs without the fear of being bashed up,” he said.
A 20-year-old man was also charged with stealing. He and the 40-year-old man were bailed to appear in Court on January next year.
His last name*
