Two men to face court for bashing Indian taxi driver in Melbourne

Melbourne, Jan 18(ANI): Two Australian men, who have been charged with bashing an Indian taxi driver in Norlane, Melbourne, will be produced in a local court on Monday.

According to reports, Robert Harvey and Andrew Madden, were remanded in custody on Sunday on charges of robbery and assault-related crimes, which police allege were the result of a premeditated attack.

Police said the two men were picked up by the 23-year-old Indian driver at a Plume St address in Norlane just after midnight on Sunday.

It is alleged the men set upon the taxi driver shortly afterwards, at the intersection of Sparks road and the Princes Highway, Norlane, where he suffered bruising and swelling to the face and head. An undisclosed amount of cash was also allegedly taken from the driver.

"The evidence tends to point towards a premeditated attack. A number of passersby came to the aid of the taxi driver after he pleaded for assistance from passing cars," The Herald Sun quoted Det Sen-Constable Melis, as saying.

"One of the accused was held until police arrived. The other ... was later arrested by police," he added.

Meanwhile, police have also denied it being a race-related incident.

Earlier on Friday, 48-year-old Paul John Brogden was jailed for three months after racially abusing an Indian taxi driver during a drunken rampage. (ANI)