Two Australian men from Victoria, arrested for assaulting an Indian taxi driver, will be produced in court on Monday, in an incident that takes to four the number of attacks on Indian cabbies in three days.
The incident happened on Friday night when the two men were picked up by a 23-year old taxi driver in Geelong city.
Robert Harvey, 25, and Andrew Madden, 24, both of Norlane, allegedly set upon the driver shortly afterwards at the intersection of Sparks Rd and the Princes Highway where he suffered bruising and swelling to the face and head.
Paramedics treated him at the scene but he was not hospitalised, according to police official Ben Melis.
The two men, who were arrested after the incident, were remanded in custody on Sunday and charged with robbery and assault-related crimes.
Police allege it was a premeditated attack, according to a ‘Herald Sun’ report.
However, there was no confirmation by the police on whether the attack was racially motivated.
The incident was the fourth such attack on Indian cabbies in three days, and came after two such instances in the Victorian city of Ballart, and another such case in which a quick sentence of three months was administered to a man for abusing and assaulting an Indian taxi driver.
An undisclosed amount of cash was also allegedly taken away from the driver, Melis said.
“The evidence tends to point towards a premeditated attack,” Melis said.
“A number of passersby came to the aid of the taxi driver after he pleaded for assistance from passing cars. One of the accused was held until police arrived.
“The other... was later arrested by police“.
Both men will face Geelong Magistrates’ Court today.
Melis said it was pleasing to see so many people come to the victim’s aid.
Meanwhile, Indian High Commissioner Sujatha Singh specially flew to visit the recently attacked Gurdawara in Cranbourne and also visited Blackburn Gurdawara.
She met Gurdawara members and also community members during her visit.
