Private hire driver suspended 'after committing murder while on duty'

It is alleged that, while driving a private hire car, he 'assaulted a person by intentionally driving directly them and striking him with the car'.

Drew Sandelands, Local Democracy Reporter

14th Sep 2023

Posted in

A private hire driver in Glasgow has been suspended after it was alleged he committed murder while on duty.

Police Scotland requested the suspension as Kunathilingam Mohanathas has been charged with murder following an incident on August 5.

An officer told the city’s licensing committee it is alleged that, while driving a private hire car, Mr Mohanathas “assaulted a named person by intentionally driving a car directly towards the named person and striking him with the car”.

Councillors were told he was “acting in his capacity as a private hire car driver at the time of the alleged offence”.

Mr Mohanathas was granted a private hire car driver’s licence and private hire car licence on March 3, 2021. Police Scotland requested the licences were suspended on August 8 this year, and, on August 9, both were suspended with “immediate effect for a period of six weeks”.

Councillors on the licensing committee have now decided to suspend both licences for the unexpired portion of their duration while Mr Mohanthas faces the allegation.

He is currently remanded in custody, the committee heard.