WORLDWIDE from USA
CABBIES CAUSE BROOKLYN BRIDGE TRAFFIC JAM WITH DEBT RELIEF PROTEST
Dozens of cab drivers on Wednesday 10 February temporarily shut down traffic on the Brooklyn Bridge as they called for medallion debt relief. Footage shows
traffic
congestion across the bridge’s Brooklyn-bound lanes, which are gridlocked with yellow taxis and other vehicles.
Earlier in the day, the New York Taxi Workers Alliance organised a protest outside the mayor’s residence, Gracie Mansion, as drivers testified remotely at a City Council hearing. Drivers say they need debt forgiveness to survive. The group then drove outside Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer's Brooklyn home, where they cheered after hearing the senator released a statement in support of debt relief. The executive director of the New York Taxi Workers Alliance released a statement saying: “Now, we have a commitment of support from the official that the mayor relies on to deliver that federal aid to the city. It’s time to act now and put an end to this crisis of poverty and debt.” Many drivers owe hundreds of thousands of dollars on medallions bought before ride-sharing apps and Covid destroyed the industry, the alliance said.
from Czech Rep.
CZECH TAXI BOSS CAUGHT SMUGGLING £1M FROM SCOTLAND TO DUBAI
A Czech taxi boss is facing jail after being caught trying to smuggle almost £1million from Scotland to Dubai. Lukas Pokorny, 42, was snared when police swooped on him as he tried to board a flight at Glasgow Airport in November last year. Border Force officials seized three suitcases he had checked in and discovered £867,030 wrapped in blue velvet cloth. Officers also found three mobile phones. According to the Scottish Sun, Pokorny claimed the bags were filled with “jackets and gifts” for a pal in Dubai.
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On 1 February, he admitted a charge under the Proceeds of Crime Act during a hearing at the Glasgow High Court. Prosecutor, Alex Prentice QC, said: “Mr Pokorny has no previous convictions meaning he would not normally attract the attention of authorities. As such, he was the ideal courier for criminal gangs.” He told the court that Pokorny arrived at Edinburgh Airport from Prague on November 7, carrying only a tan holdall. However, when he checked in at Glasgow Airport for his Emirates flight to Dubai the following day - he also had three suitcases. The court heard how after arriving in Edinburgh, Pokorny travelled to a flat in Shawlands, Glasgow. He then made his way to the Marriot Hotel, near Glasgow Airport, where he picked up suitcases from an unknown man. After checking in the three suitcases, authorities became suspicious of Pokorny and quizzed him at the airport. A Border Force officer said Pokorny had a “lot of bags” for the trip. He claimed only the tan holdall belonged to him. Pokorny was then quizzed by National Crime Agency officers before being charged. Mr Prentice said the amount of cash was “indicative of a large scale money laundering operation”. He added that the various currencies and denominations “indicated the money was being transported to be laundered”. The Judge deferred sentencing until March so reports could be prepared.
from Ireland
IRISH CABBIE JAILED FOR LEAVING SCENE OF FATAL COLLISION
A 75-year-old cabbie has been jailed for four years for failing to remain at the scene of a crash in which a doctor was killed as he walked home to his hotel from a Christmas party. The Irish Times reports that Denis McSweeney from Bally- phehane in Cork pleaded guilty to four charges relating to the road traffic collision which claimed the life of consultant psychiatrist Dr Martin Lawlor, 49, on 15 December 2018. He pleaded guilty to failing to give appropriate information to gardaí, failing to keep the vehicle at or near the scene, failing to report the incident and failing to stop his vehicle . On 3 February Cork Circuit Criminal court was told that Dr Lawlor was walking up the Kinsale Road on his way to his airport hotel at about 5.30am after a Christmas night out with
MARCH 2021
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