David Lammy taxi fare row driver told prosecutors he thought Foreign Sec was carrying a GUN, bombshell papers reveal

The Sun

17-05-2025

THE chauffeur at the centre of David Lammy's taxi fare row told prosecutors he thought the Foreign Secretary was carrying a gun, bombshell papers reveal.
Shocking documents obtained by The Sun on Sunday also reveal that Nasim Mimun, 40, claimed to French officials that two cars were following them on the 360-mile journey.
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The prosecution files form the basis of a court hearing set for November after Mr Mimun was charged with theft.
But they raise the embarrassing prospect of Mr Lammy, 52, and his wife Nicola Green, 53, being called to France to give evidence.
They refer to the Foreign Secretary by his full name, David Lindon Lammy — but wrongly write LINDO — and contain several shocking allegations made by experienced VIP cabbie Mr Mimun, including the gun and cars.
Further pressure was heaped on the Foreign Office last night as The Sun on Sunday can reveal Mr Lammy did not have a security detail with him during the six-hour trip from Forli in Italy to the French ski resort of Flaine.
Officials are now looking into his security arrangements after the bust-up in the French Alps.
The taxi driver allegedly sped off with the couple's luggage after they refused to pay an additional 700 euros (£590) which he insisted he was owed.
But the Foreign Office said the fare had been paid in full before the couple had set off.
Mr Mimun told prosecutors in an on-the-record statement contained in the legal documents: 'When I received the transport request, the name of the victims was not mentioned nor that they were authority figures, which is what constitutes a transport risk so the tariff is not the same.
'I asked for 700 euros to be paid. They refused, and they left. He came towards me. I left in the car. I was scared, because I knew since Forli that he had a gun on him.
'I called the Swiss police, I pressed on the GPS, to find the nearest police station or gendarmerie, and it indicated the municipal police of Cluses.
Foreign Sec David Lammy shouted 'f***ing French' at me during furious row over taxi fare - I was afraid, claims driver
'By coincidence, they said I stole 700 euros from them. The suitcase had a code. We were followed from Italy by two vehicles because of her husband.'
The statement was given to vice-prosecutor Aude Menaige in the south-east city of Bonneville on May 6, three weeks after the trip.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp MP slammed the humiliating saga and said: 'David Lammy and the Foreign Office have serious questions to answer.
'Most importantly, did one of our most senior ministers and top diplomats have the proper security protection?
'It beggars belief that he was able to end up in this highly embarrassing situation.
'The public expect professionalism and care from those representing the UK on the world stage, especially from those most senior. Labour must come clean.'
Mr Lammy had no bodyguard in the car and it remained unclear when the booking was made and what vetting was done.
Serious concerns were raised this week over whether or not Mr Mimun had been vetted at all.
No evidence has yet emerged to support the claim Mr Lammy had a gun beyond Mr Mimun's statement.
It would be unheard of for a British minister to carry a gun, especially overseas.
And sources close to Mr Lammy said he did not have one, saying: 'It's a completely absurd allegation. Of course he didn't have a gun.
'The allegation speaks more to the character of the taxi driver than anything else.'
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Mr Lammy also had no official documents with him.
But in an interview with The Sun on Sunday, Mr Mimun said: 'When I bent down to pick up his luggage when we set off, I was at the height of Mr Lammy's waist, and I saw he was carrying a firearm.
'When I asked for the 700 euros extra, Mr Lammy started screaming and shouting abuse.
'I could see in my rear-view mirror that he was coming for me and — because he had a gun on him — I sped off.'
Mr Mimun made several claims against the Foreign Secretary last week, which included accusing him of 'acting like a thug' and using the words 'f***ing French'.
The Foreign Secretary vehemently denies any wrongdoing and said the fare was paid in full.
He was travelling for a private holiday after accompanying the King and Queen on a state visit to Italy.
It was understood he did not have his official red box or any sensitive documents with him.
Both he and his wife have been named as victims of theft.
The taxi row erupted when Mr Mimun drove Mr Lammy and his wife from Forli in Italy to Flaine, a ski village in Haute Savoie in the French Alps.
Mr Lammy sat in the back of the Ford Kuga, while Ms Green was in the front.
An agreed fare had already been paid to online marketplace GetTransfer when the booking was made.
Mr Mimun asked for an additional £590 from Mr Lammy because of the higher risks associated with driving a VIP — but the Foreign Secretary refused.
The pickup was at 5pm on April 10, and the row is said to have intensified as they got to the French Alpine town of Clunes, close to the final destination.
'Commercial dispute'
The driver had a row with Ms Green before driving off with their luggage to a police station, where he made a complaint.
Foreign Office sources revealed Ms Green said Mr Mimun had a knife in the glove box of his vehicle, which he opened to show her during a dispute over the fee.
But Mr Mimun insisted to The Sun that it was a silver pen.
He said he was not aware of any security detail travelling with Mr Lammy and his wife.
An investigation into a 'commercial dispute' was opened by the Bonneville prosecutor's office in Haute-Savoie.
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A member of the Foreign Secretary's office then contacted the driver to get the luggage back, and it was allegedly deposited at a police station with a sum of money missing from Ms Green's bag.
It is thought to be equivalent to the amount the driver believed was owed to him.
Mr Mimun has been charged with theft.
Official sworn documents show he returned the items voluntarily, but prosecutors say it still counts as theft because of the length of time he had them.
He has been placed under judicial supervision on 2,000 euros bail with a driving ban and allowed to go free ahead of his trial.
He will appear in court on November 3 in Bonneville for 'theft of cash and personal belongings'.
He has also shown The Sun on Sunday evidence that he has not yet received the agreed fare from GetTransfer.
He is suing Mr Lammy for more than 2,664 euros (£2,241), to include interest and legal fees paid to a firm of Paris bailiffs.
The money is to cover the whole fare, including the agreed fare the booker has not released to him and the VIP tariff.
The driver also complained to the British Embassy in Paris, saying he just wanted to be paid.
GetTransfer said: 'According to our internal records, Mr Lammy has indeed paid the full fare.
'The driver will receive payment in full by 23 May, consistent with our standard terms and conditions.
'We also have confirmation from Mr Lammy acknowledging completion of the journey, which finalises the contract between client and driver. Direct conflicts between client and driver fall outside our operational jurisdiction, as our responsibility is strictly limited to information facilitation.'
The Foreign Office had been approached for comment.
How the row over trip fare blew up
THE Sun's revelation that Foreign Secretary David Lammy had been involved in a furious row with a driver over a taxi fare has made headlines worldwide. Here are the key dates:
APRIL 10: Foreign Secretary David Lammy and his wife Nicola are collected from Forsi, Italy, at 5pm ahead of a six-hour taxi drive to Flaine.
Driver Nisim Mimun demands an extra 700 euros (£590) because he was not forewarned they were high-risk individuals.
APRIL 11: After arriving and rowing over the fare, Mr Mimun claims he went to the nearest police station to report the incident.
He drove off with the couple's luggage and cash, but claims he realised only when he got to the police station. The luggage was later returned. The Foreign Office claims it was only after an official contacted Mr Mimun about it.
APRIL 25: A bailiff demand was sent to Mr Lammy's representatives demanding payment for the fare, plus legal charges.
MAY 6: Mr Mimun gives a statement to prosecutors claiming he was scared because Mr Lammy allegedly had a gun. A signed and dated statement shows Mr Mimun returned the luggage voluntarily.
MAY 14: News breaks that French prosecutors were investigating a claim that Mr Lammy and his wife refused to pay a fare worth almost £600.
They vehemently deny any wrongdoing and say the agreed fare was paid in full. It was revealed the driver had been charged with theft.
MAY 15: Mr Mimun shares pictures with The Sun, which he claims show rubbish left in the car by the Lammys. He also accuses Mr Lammy of being 'a thug', 'a "liar' and saying 'f***ing French'.
NOVEMBER 3: Mr Mimun is due to appear in court charged with theft.