TWO CAB drivers have been granted taxi licences despite being convicted for abduction attempts.

In 2006 at Old Dumbarton Road Mohammad Naime and four others forced a man into a car before holding him at knifepoint while he was tied to a chair with electrical cables.

The man, who was targeted because he owed money to Mr Naime, was abandoned in the building before he was rescued by police.

Mr Naime was brought before the licensing committee on Thursday when it emerged he had been granted a private hire car driver’s licence between 2015 and 2018 but did not renew it when it expired.

Labour councillors Aileen McKenzie, Jim Coleman, John Kane and Hanif Raja voted to grant the licence while councillor Alex Wilson, Elspeth Kerr (both SNP) and Conservative councillor Robert Connelly voted to refuse it.

Councillor Alex Wilson said: “I am very disappointed with the decision. I felt there were significant concerns to public safety and that this gentleman shouldn’t be granted a licence.

“I still believe there was enough evidence for this application to be rejected. Regardless of the fact that someone owed him money it is not acceptable for anyone to resolve their problems through violence.”

In November 2012 a taxi driver was convicted for abducting a female passenger after her boyfriend climbed out the window of the moving car.

William Swinburne had agreed to take the couple to their home in Bishopbriggs but turned his metre off. The male passenger became anxious as a result and climbed out of the window and was hospitalised for two days.

The woman asked Mr Swinburne to stop but he didn’t. Instead he drove on but called an ambulance before dropping the woman off at the police station.

At the licensing committee Mr Swinburne explained that the couple had asked to be taken to Bishopbriggs but there would be a boundary charge.

He said: “I had barely moved 100 yards when the man asked me about the fare. They were both aggressive towards me. The woman threatened me and said I would get shot.”

Police Scotland confirmed Mr Swinburne’s version of events was similar to official reports. Following the discussion the committee agreed to renew his licence.