Block TV presenter details how she got assaulted by a taxi driver

By Adama Makasuba

A Gambian-based online Block TV presenter who was on Friday assaulted by an unknown taxi driver for telling him to stop hiking the transport fare without observing physical and social distancing in his seven-seat passenger car, has detailed how she got assaulted for speaking her rights amid the wild spread of coronavirus.

Speaking to The Voice on Sunday, Sainab Chaw, said the incident happened between the hours of 11am and 12pm when she was heading for work on Friday.

“I boarded this seven-passenger taxi from Tippa garage going (heading) to Westfield,” she said.

Mrs Chaw who sat on the front seat said “I gave him D13 to him so that he can return D5 to me to avoid looking for change instead he (driver) said ‘no the fare is 10 dalasis.’”

She narrated further her ordeal that “I told the driver you are not exercising social distancing because the car here is full (to capatity). You are not exercising social distancing and I cannot pay you D10. So, he said I don’t care my fare is D10 while I replied him that it’s same you drivers who had staged a sit-down strike.”

“He started insulting me saying you journalists are the liars and I said to him you don’t even have patience but he continued the insult and I also returned the insult to him. He stopped the car and alighted to meet me where I was sitting. He opened the taxi door, removed the seatbelt, dragged me down from the car and punched me,” she explained.