An Auckland taxi driver has been suspended after allegedly attacking two flight attendants over a fare dispute.
Zulfiqar Khan, 36, appeared in Auckland District Court on Friday facing two charges of assault relating to an incident opposite SkyCity casino on May 9.
Khan pleaded not guilty to both charges. Hetold the court he acted in self-defence.
Today Summit Taxis, for which Khan worked as an owner/driver, confirmed he had been suspended until the outcome of the case was known.
Summit compliance officer James Ali told NZPA the suspension came into effect from 10am.
The company did not know about the charges until a media report about the incident yesterday, Mr Ali said.
"We were not informed by police...and the victims also did not contact the office," he said.
The women said Khan hit one of them in the face and grabbed the other's throat in an attack that left them distressed and distraught.
One of the alleged victims told The Herald on Sunday she took time off work to recover from what she described as the "worst thing that's ever happened to me".
The court was told Khan grabbed one of the women by her hair, pulled her to the ground with his hand around her throat, then "started on the other girl".
He then stood over them "yelling obscenities" in a dispute over how much change he should have given them.
Khan was released on bail to reappear in November for a defended hearing.
