Taxi driver left stressed by supposed 'prank'
A Dunedin Taxis driver says he was left shivering and in tears after believing he was being "blackmailed" for $10,000 by two fellow drivers.
The driver said former Dunedin Taxis director Gurpreet Singh and driver Vishal Vala demanded the payment be made to an Indian bank account in March to alter log books.
He claims he was told if he did not make the payment he would be fired.
When he complained to Dunedin Taxis chairman Paul Oliver and the police, he was told the incident was just a prank - an explanation which he doubted.
The driver, who provided texts and emails to the Otago Daily Times, said he felt forced to withdraw the complaints, but said the ordeal left him scared of Mr Singh, who is still a driver for the company.
"I still can't make any sense of this whole incident, that's why was I intimidated," he said in communication supplied to the ODT.
"[I felt] threatened, emotionally blackmailed and financially blackmailed.
"Tears are rolling down my eyes — I am stressed, I feel betrayed, I am shivering, and I couldn't sleep for the whole night."
When approached by the ODT, Mr Singh and Mr Vala stood by their explanation the incident was a prank they regretted.
Mr Vala said the prank took place while the pair were drunk.
The driver said the incident happened after Mr Singh and Mr Vala befriended him when he first joined Dunedin Taxis, and claims the pair introduced him to their system of getting preference for big-ticket rides.
They told him they had an arrangement with a staff member at the Dunedin Taxis call centre to allocate them the more expensive trips that came through the system — which was against the constitution of the company.
The driver said he took a few of those rides after believing Mr Singh had set them up for him.
On March 14, the driver claims Mr Singh told him that Dunedin Taxis had a record of those rides and they needed to be deleted from the company's system or else he would lose his job.
The driver alleges Mr Singh had told him to make a $10,000 deposit into an Auckland-based staff member's Indian account to wipe logbook records.
At this point, the driver was scared and refused to take part in the arrangement.
The driver complained to Dunedin Taxis chairman Mr Oliver and to the police on the evening of March 14.
The following day the driver received an apology from both Mr Singh and Mr Vala.
Mr Singh wrote: "I'm really sorry for the prank — I misjudged it and I regret that it didn't come across as harmless fun.
Mr Vala wrote: "I never imagined it would affect you that way, especially since we used to be good friends".
The driver responded to a separate apology Mr Singh made on WhatsApp by saying he had "lost all respect" for the pair.
He highlighted he was "shocked and shivering" after their threats.
Mr Singh responded to him by saying "GOOD THOUGHTS FROM CHAT GPT" and "U can f... off".
The driver said he ended up in the emergency department at the hospital with high blood pressure
The driver said the incident left him feeling unsafe working for Dunedin Taxis, and he was not happy with the response from the company to his complaint.
When questioned by the ODT, Mr Singh reiterated the incident was a prank and denied allegations of blackmail and any involvement in a scheme to give drivers preferential treatment for big ticket rides.
He said the matter was amicably resolved with the help of two fellow drivers, and the police complaint was withdrawn.
Mr Vala also denied the allegations.
He said he had been drinking with Mr Singh when they decided to prank call the driver.
"We did not know he would take it so seriously."
Mr Vala thought the matter had been resolved within the company and said he was told no further action would be taken.
Mr Oliver said he told the driver he could not do anything about the complaints against Mr Singh and Mr Vala because the driver had already taken the issue to police.
"That was the end of it for me.
"Whether there was $10,000 or whatever it was, it's just no longer my problem or concern ... it had nothing to do with taxi operations."
He said after the complaint was withdrawn from police he thought the driver and Mr Singh and Mr Vala were friends again, and he did not have to take any further action.
He said it was impossible to wipe any logbook records.
"Unless they go up to Auckland and break into the place and do a Watergate, that's impossible."
He said there were constant complaints some drivers were getting better rides than others, but the system could not be worked improperly.
mark.john@odt.co.nz
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Gurpreet Singh. PHOTO: GREGOR RICHARDSON A Dunedin Taxis driver says he was left shivering and in tears after believing he was being "blackmailed" for $10,000 by two fellow drivers. The driver said former Dunedin Taxis director Gurpreet Singh and driver Vishal Vala demanded the payment be made to an Indian bank account in March to alter log books. He claims he was told if he did not make the payment he would be fired. When he complained to Dunedin Taxis chairman Paul Oliver and the police, he was told the incident was just a prank - an explanation which he doubted. The driver, who provided texts and emails to the Otago Daily Times, said he felt forced to withdraw the complaints, but said the ordeal left him scared of Mr Singh, who is still a driver for the company. "I still can't make any sense of this whole incident, that's why was I intimidated," he said in communication supplied to the ODT. "[I felt] threatened, emotionally blackmailed and financially blackmailed. "Tears are rolling down my eyes — I am stressed, I feel betrayed, I am shivering, and I couldn't sleep for the whole night." When approached by the ODT, Mr Singh and Mr Vala stood by their explanation the incident was a prank they regretted. Mr Vala said the prank took place while the pair were drunk. The driver said the incident happened after Mr Singh and Mr Vala befriended him when he first joined Dunedin Taxis, and claims the pair introduced him to their system of getting preference for big-ticket rides. They told him they had an arrangement with a staff member at the Dunedin Taxis call centre to allocate them the more expensive trips that came through the system — which was against the constitution of the company. The driver said he took a few of those rides after believing Mr Singh had set them up for him. On March 14, the driver claims Mr Singh told him that Dunedin Taxis had a record of those rides and they needed to be deleted from the company's system or else he would lose his job. The driver alleges Mr Singh had told him to make a $10,000 deposit into an Auckland-based staff member's Indian account to wipe logbook records. At this point, the driver was scared and refused to take part in the arrangement. The driver complained to Dunedin Taxis chairman Mr Oliver and to the police on the evening of March 14. The following day the driver received an apology from both Mr Singh and Mr Vala. Mr Singh wrote: "I'm really sorry for the prank — I misjudged it and I regret that it didn't come across as harmless fun. Mr Vala wrote: "I never imagined it would affect you that way, especially since we used to be good friends". The driver responded to a separate apology Mr Singh made on WhatsApp by saying he had "lost all respect" for the pair. He highlighted he was "shocked and shivering" after their threats. Mr Singh responded to him by saying "GOOD THOUGHTS FROM CHAT GPT" and "U can f... off". The driver said he ended up in the emergency department at the hospital with high blood pressure The driver said the incident left him feeling unsafe working for Dunedin Taxis, and he was not happy with the response from the company to his complaint. When questioned by the ODT, Mr Singh reiterated the incident was a prank and denied allegations of blackmail and any involvement in a scheme to give drivers preferential treatment for big ticket rides. He said the matter was amicably resolved with the help of two fellow drivers, and the police complaint was withdrawn. Mr Vala also denied the allegations. He said he had been drinking with Mr Singh when they decided to prank call the driver. "We did not know he would take it so seriously." Mr Vala thought the matter had been resolved within the company and said he was told no further action would be taken. Mr Oliver said he told the driver he could not do anything about the complaints against Mr Singh and Mr Vala because the driver had already taken the issue to police. "That was the end of it for me. "Whether there was $10,000 or whatever it was, it's just no longer my problem or concern ... it had nothing to do with taxi operations." He said after the complaint was withdrawn from police he thought the driver and Mr Singh and Mr Vala were friends again, and he did not have to take any further action. He said it was impossible to wipe any logbook records. "Unless they go up to Auckland and break into the place and do a Watergate, that's impossible." He said there were constant complaints some drivers were getting better rides than others, but the system could not be worked improperly.
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