Singapore ride-hailing service suspends Chinese driver for racist comments at passenger
Singapore: A Singapore-based Chinese cab driver who allegedly hurled racist comments at a woman and her daughter assuming she was of Indian origin has been suspended by the ride-hailing platform Tada, the company has said.
A spokesperson for the company said the action was taken against the driver following a thorough investigation into the incident, which was recorded on video by the passenger and her young daughter.
Last Saturday, Facebook user Jan Hoeden uploaded two videos that captured an argument between her and the driver, as well as a screenshot of the Tada app that showed the driver's face and her travel route.
Hoeden, who is 46 years old and of Eurasian origin, said in her post that the argument started when the driver "accused" her of giving him wrong directions. The woman claimed that she did not even advise or say anything to him.
As the conversation got more heated, the driver can be heard telling the passenger that she should not be "hao lian", or Teochew for boastful.
When Hoeden replied in Mandarin that she was not "hao lian", the driver began raising his voice and said, "You are Indian, I am Chinese." He later told Hoeden that she was "the very worst" customer, even as she told him repeatedly that she was not Indian but Eurasian.
In its statement on Tuesday, Tada said the driver's remarks that insinuated racial differences are "completely unacceptable" with the platform's community guidelines and ethos.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Three arrested for obstructing police while escorting Mahesh Shetty Timarodi
Udupi, Aug 21: Police have arrested three persons for allegedly obstructing duty and ramming a car into a police vehicle while officers were bringing accused Mahesh Shetty Timarodi to the Brahmavar Police Station in connection with a case registered there.
The arrested have been identified as Srujan L., Hitesh Shetty, and Sahan, all residents of Ujire. They were produced before the court, which remanded them to judicial custody. Police said the car used in the incident has also been seized.
According to police, when Timarodi was being escorted from Ujire to Brahmavar, a group of his supporters followed the convoy in their vehicles. Despite repeated warnings not to interfere with police movement, the supporters allegedly continued to obstruct the vehicles. Near Hosmar, under Karkala Rural Police Station limits, they allegedly rammed their car into an official vehicle (bearing registration number KA 20 G 0669) belonging to the Udupi District Additional Superintendent of Police, in an attempt to prevent the police team from taking Timarodi to Brahmavar.
Following the incident, a case was registered at Karkala Rural Police Station. The three accused were later arrested and their car was seized. They have now been placed under judicial custody.
