A Halifax taxi driver accused of sexual assault is appealing the suspension of his licence.
Navneet Jaggi was charged with sexual assault on June 25 and the municipality’s licensing authority suspended his taxi driver’s and owner’s licences the same day, according to a report headed to council’s appeals standing committee on Wednesday.
“Taking into account the serious nature of the incident, the Licensing Authority has determined that it is in the public interest to suspend your licence,” licensing supervisor Hilary Hayes wrote in a letter to Jaggi dated June 26.
“Following the outcome of any court proceedings, a review of your licensing privileges will be conducted. This review may result in the permanent revocation of your licence.”
Jaggi appealed the suspension a week later, writing in a letter to the municipality received on July 2 that he is the only member of his family who can work because his wife doesn’t speak English.
The appeals standing committee is scheduled to hear Jaggi’s appeal at a virtual special meeting on Wednesday.
Halifax-district RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Lisa Croteau said in an email that RCMP received a report on Feb. 10 of an assault that occurred on Feb. 8 on Hwy. 107 in Porter’s Lake.
“Navneet Jaggi, 57, of Porter’s Lake, was charged with Sexual Assault as a result if this investigation. He is scheduled to appear in Dartmouth Provincial Court on August 18,” Croteau said.
A taxi driver with the same name was the subject of a story in the Chronicle Herald in February 2019, alleging the police weren’t taking his report of a racist attack by a passenger seriously.
This could be one of the last taxi appeals the committee hears. Due to their controversial and complicated nature, council voted in March to create a new arms-length committee to hear taxi appeals.
First reading of bylaws enabling that new committee is scheduled for council’s next meeting on Aug. 18.
This article was updated to add details of the charges against Jaggi.