Indian origin Uber taxi driver pleaded not guilty in Australia

Canberra, June 8: An Indian origin taxi driver of app based cab provider Uber has pleaded not guilty to three charges in Australia.

Indian origin driver Sukhwinder Singh, the first Uber driver to be prosecuted in Western Australia, was accused of using a vehicle as a taxi without authorisation and interfering with a surveillance unit in a taxi, The Australian reported.

Singh did not appear in person in the Perth Magistrates Court on Monday but his lawyer, Peter Haag, entered a not guilty plea on his behalf.

He is scheduled to appear before court again on June 30 to determine when he will face trial.

Singh is one of 20 Uber drivers charged with illegally operating a taxi in Western Australia.

Outside court, Taxi Industry Forum chief executive Howard Lance said he didn't feel sorry for the drivers who were facing prosecution.

"I want to see more charges - I just want to see justice served," Mr Lance said.

"The regulations are basically there to protect the travelling public and if they're flaunted, at the end of the day, it's the travelling public that's going to miss out."

Charges were laid against more than 19 Perth drivers of the ride-sharing app Uber after they ignored orders to produce appropriate documents to show they could operate in May.

OneIndia News