Cabbie compares Darwin worse than Sydney for crime and violence

A Top End cabbie has spoken up after allegedly being assaulted multiple times this year, sharing the financial toll its had on him.

A TOP End taxi driver, who has allegedly been assaulted multiple times this year, says his financial stability is at risk.

Veteran taxi driver Alam Fasiul has worked in Darwin for 10 years and on April 30 was allegedly attacked by a passenger outside the Casuarina McDonald’s.

The incident was the most recent of many Mr Fasiul says has endured working in ­Darwin.

“Every week it (assault) happens in Darwin, every week,” the taxi driver said.

Nursing his knuckles covered in blemishes, he ran his fingers over scars from an alleged incident weeks earlier, when he needed to act in self-­defence and ward off a customer in Coolalinga.

“I’m always fighting with the customer,” he said.

Before living and working as a taxi driver in Darwin, Mr Fasiul worked as a driver for a decade in Sydney.

Asked how many times he had been ­assaulted while on the job, Mr Fasiul said: “Lots … lots of times and it never happened in Sydney.”

Mr Fasiul’s taxi was written off after the incident at Casuarina.

The destruction ­included some damage from a fire lit inside the taxi.

Mr Fasiul’s insurer refused to compensate him for the damage at Casuarina because his 2015 Toyota Camry had a high odometer reading of 800,000km. And while deemed worthless on paper, the taxi is an ­invaluable asset for the driver, who, without the taxi or an ­insurance payout, is now ­unemployed.

“I’m losing everything, I can’t get back anything from insurance,” he said. “I have a mortgage with my family.”

Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics Minister Eva Lawler said the NT government had mandated all taxis and minibuses be fitted with approved security camera systems to assist with driver and passenger safety.

The alleged offender of the Casuarina incident, ­Andrew Higgins, 31, was arrested and charged and ­appeared in court last Tuesday.

His alleged offences ­include robbery, recklessly endangering serious harm, running a red light, driving a vehicle causing loss of traction, driving a vehicle in a dangerous manner, stealing, attempted arson, damage to property, trespassing, resisting police and driving unlicensed.

Higgins is expected to appear again in Darwin Local Court at a later date.

Originally published as Cabbie compares Darwin worse than Sydney for crime and violence