Rajneesh Joga
August 9, 2006
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

The Age
(Melbourne, Australia)
August 9, 2006

Cabbie thrown from car

Jordan Chong
August 9, 2006 - 11:34AM

A Melbourne taxi driver has died after being thrown from his
moving car when caught up in a chain of events that began after
a police chase in Melbourne.

But police have praised the quick thinking of passers-by who
restrained the alleged offender until police were able to take a
man into custody.

"They (the passers-by) got involved in something they saw, and
took quick action and grabbed the offender.

"They should be commended for what they did. It was obviously
quick thinking and a bit of community spirit," homicide squad
Detective Senior Sergeant Jeff Maher said at a press conference
this morning.

Police said the alleged offender threw the taxi driver from the
moving car before the car ran out of control in Donvale, crashed
into a fence and then reversed into a tree.

'Pinned to the vehicle'

Police believe the 27-year-old Indian citizen died from injuries he
received when the man, allegedly trying to evade capture,
commandeered his cab and seriously assaulted him.

Footage from the in-car camera showed the alleged offender
getting into the front passenger seat of the taxi, a struggle and
then the driver was ejected from the moving vehicle as it veered
off Astelot Drive, Donvale.

The cabbie died in the Royal Melbourne Hospital about 2am
today from head and chest injuries suffered in the incident.

He was "partially out of the vehicle'' and "injured as a result of
being pinned to the vehicle'', Senior Sergeant Maher said.

"I would describe the cab driver, unfortunately, as being in the
wrong place at the wrong time, and the circumstances were just
amazing," he said.

Police chase

The drama began with a police chase in Donvale after a white
Commodore was stolen in Footscray, in Melbourne's west.

"The car was stolen at about 4.30pm. The pursuit did not occur
until about 8.30 last night," Senior Sergeant Maher told ABC
radio.

"What has occurred is that police officers have noticed the
vehicle weaving. They've tried to intercept the vehicle ... and
they've terminated the pursuit due to the vehicle (running) a
couple of red lights and also blowing out a couple of tyres.

"A grid search was started for the vehicle and the vehicle was
located some seven or eight minutes later with no driver about,
but two of the wheels had been deflated. They (police) were then
approached by two members of the public.

"A woman said she had just run over a gentlemen on the other
side of Springvale Road ... He had got up and run off heading
towards the oncoming traffic in Springvale Road. That was the
last she saw of him. Then the cab has been commandeered by
the offender," Senior Sergeant Maher said.

"It's a bit sketchy. We believe he waved it down or
commandeered it in some way. It ended up in Astelot Drive in
Donvale where there's been an incident there involving the
offender and the cab driver, resulting in the cab driver being very
critically injured."

Citizen's arrest

At least two people restrained the alleged offender until police
arrived and he was arrested in the truck he had been allegedly
attempting to steal.

"It looks like a couple of citizens have seen this happen and got
out to assist the cab driver who was lying fairly critically injured
and the offender then tried to steal their truck.

"The members of the public then arrested the offender. I would
say they've executed a citizen's arrest, restrained the person
until the police have turned up.

"Police said it appeared the alleged offender had thrown the taxi
driver from the moving car before the car ran out of control on
Astelot Drive, crashed into a fence and reversed into a tree.

'Terrible incident'

"He (the taxi driver) was actually caught up in a pretty terrible
incident," a police spokeswoman said.

"Unfortunately for the taxi driver, he stopped, probably believing
he was helping someone that was injured from a crash that he
(the man) had been involved in.

"We're not exactly sure what happened to him but we understand
the taxi did a spin and then backed into a tree but the collision
was not the cause of the taxi driver's injuries."

A 20-year-old man was taken to The Alfred Hospital for
treatment before being transferred to the St Kilda Road police
complex.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The Age
(Melbourne, Australia)
August 10, 2006

Police assess taxi-death suspect

Kate Hagan
August 10, 2006 - 9:04AM

A man accused of killing a taxi driver by throwing him from his
cab is being medically assessed by police.

Yesterday, the 20-year-old was deemed to be unfit for interview
and kept in police custody, but is currently being reassessed by a
police medical officer.

A police spokeswoman said the man could be charged later this
morning.

Police say 27-year-old cabbie Rajneesh Joga was "in the wrong
place at the wrong time" on Tuesday night when he picked up an
alleged car thief, who then attempted to push him out of the
moving taxi in east suburban Donvale while trying to
commandeer it.

Mr Joga suffered critical head and chest injuries when he
became "pinned" on impact, homicide squad Detective Senior
Sergeant Jeff Maher said today.

He died in a Melbourne hospital at 2am yesterday.

The accused appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates Court late
yesterday, where police made a successful application to collect
DNA samples from him.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The Melbourne Herald Sun
(Melbourne, Australia)
August 10, 2006

Police praise brave trio

Matt Cunningham
August 10, 2006 12:00am

POLICE have praised three suburban heroes who detained a
suspected killer in a citizens' arrest.

Roberto Orsillo arrived home in Donvale with workmate Steven
Buchanan just minutes after a taxi, allegedly hijacked by Eilyup
Zaim, crashed and threw cab driver Rajneesh Joga on to the
footpath.

They jumped from their truck, leaving the engine running, and
rushed to the dying cabbie's aid.

Mr Zaim allegedly leapt into the truck and was about to take off
when Mr Orsillo's instincts took over.

"I got to the door just in time," he said.

"I pulled myself into the truck just as he got it into gear.

"I leant across and pulled the handbrake. He had the truck in
reverse. He stalled it and bunny-hopped."

Mr Orsillo, 33, said he pulled the man out of the truck.

"I grabbed him and he realised he wasn't going anywhere. He
didn't try to run away at that point."

Mr Orsillo, Mr Buchanan, 21, and a neighbour detained the
suspect until police arrived.

The neighbour said he was worried the man was going to run
away. "I said to him, 'Mate, stay where you are'," he said.

" 'If you take off now you are going to make matters worse for
yourself'."

He said nobody at the scene was aware of exactly what had
happened.

"He was saying, 'You don't understand how much trouble I'm in.
The jacks (police) have been after me all day'."

Mr Buchanan said the man was quite volatile until he offered him
a cigarette.

"He calmed down a bit when I did that," he said.

"When he first got out of the truck he wasn't too happy. We all
thought he might have got up and done something.

"I just sort of stood over him. I said, 'Wait there, don't move', and
then the cops turned up a bit after that."

Det Sen-Sgt Jeff Maher, of the homicide squad, commended the
three men.

But they shied away from the hero tag.

"We just happened to be there," Mr Orsillo said.

"Everyone reacts differently, I suppose, but we just reacted and
did what we thought we had to do."

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The Melbourne Herald Sun
(Melbourne, Australia)
August 10, 2006

Police praise brave trio

Anthony Dowsley
August 10, 2006 12:00am

TAXI driver and university student Rajneesh Joga was known to
stop to help people in need.

Mr Joga, 27, of Clayton, spent his days studying and nights
driving a taxi to pay for his course and send cash home to his
mother and sick father.

His cousin and housemate, Chakri Kamisetty, says he cannot
believe anyone would want to hurt him.

Mr Kamisetty said his cousin, whom he described as the funny
one of the share house, had always helped people in need.

He said he would give passengers who couldn't pay his taxi fare
his mobile phone number to call him when they could.

Mr Kamisetty said he had a phone call from Mr Joga about
8.30pm on Tuesday, about the time of the incident, but could not
speak with him.

When he called back minutes later, there was no answer.

He said Mr Joga's death had left him in shock.

Mr Kamisetty said Mr Joga would not have fought back.

"He's not the kind of person to say something bad or fight with
someone," he said. "He used to call here and say he was helping
someone.

"He called me (last night) and I was in a lecture and I said 'I call
you in five minutes'.

"He wanted to say something, like don't hang up."

After leaving his home city of Hyderabad in August 2004 to study
his master of accountancy in Australia, Mr Joga needed money
to survive.

To get his taxi licence, he walked from Clayton to Springvale to
hire a car to practise, a friend said.

Housemate Mittun Enkarla said Mr Joga loved driving cabs,
which he had done for 18 months.

He wanted to settle in Australia and was thinking of marrying
next year.

"He wanted to get settled here," Mr Enkarla said.

"He loved Australia very much. That's why he was happy driving
a cab.

"We are in disbelief."

Mr Joga was to complete his three-year master's degree from
Melbourne Institute of Technology in February.

He visited his parents last summer but wanted to do more to help
them.

"He had a dream to do his master's," Mr Kamisetty said.

"He wanted to take care of his family. He sends back money
when he can.

"Rajneesh was telling his family he wanted to help them out."

Mr Joga's brother, Rajesh, has been told of his brother's death.

His parents will be told the day before his body is sent back to
India.

"We want to tell them the day before he is sent back," Mr
Kamisetty said.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The Melbourne Herald Sun
(Melbourne, Australia)
August 10, 2006

Protect our cab drivers

Liam Houlihan
August 10, 2006 12:00am

THE killing of a young taxi driver has renewed calls to protect
cabbies from violent members of the public.
Proposals include safety capsules or US-style transparent
shields between the front and back of vehicles.

Such a safety development would put an end to the uniquely
Australian tradition of sitting beside the driver.

Drivers are guarded by camera and audio surveillance in all
cabs.

They also have emergency buttons they can trigger to alert other
cabs in the area and call centres if they find themselves in
danger.

The Victorian Taxi Association said it had been inundated with
calls from people wanting more driver protection.

Police had downloaded 151 images from taxi cameras relating to
crimes in the 12 months to the middle of this year, the Victorian
Taxi Directorate said.

The dead cabbie is believed to have been assaulted after
stopping to help an injured man.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The Age
(Melbourne, Australia)
August 9, 2006

Cabbies oppose security screens

Jane Holroyd
August 9, 2006 - 4:37PM

Taxi drivers do not support the introduction of security screens
designed to protect them from assaults, an industry spokesman
said today.

Geoff Bell, head of the Victorian Taxi Operator's Group, which
represents about one-third of Melbourne taxi operators, said
most drivers opposed the type of screens used in London, New
York and in many Sydney cabs.

His comments come after the third Melbourne taxi driver since
1995 was killed, allegedly at the hands of a passenger.

Mr Bell said security cameras, now installed in about 90 per cent
of Victorian taxis at a cost of $2000 each, were a better
protection measure than the $1500 plastic booths that separate
drivers from passengers.

"Every time something like this happens it comes up again, but
for years now the drivers in particular have voiced a preference
for no screens," Mr Bell said.

"They don't like the claustrophobic feel, they don't like the
isolation or the message that we don't trust anybody."

His comments have been supported by some taxi drivers who
have written to theage.com.au today.

'Michael', who said he had driven cabs for seven years and twice
reported assaults to police, said the screens would only help in
limited situations.
"Plastic screens around drivers - will not solve all of the
problems," he wrote.

"The plastic screens protect the driver on his left hand side, not
from the right hand side."

But others supported the screens, including one former driver
who called for "New-York-style bullet-proof glass partitions" in
cabs, better security cameras with voice recording and improved
police response times.

Another wrote: "Any protection, whether it be London-style cabs
or fibreglass screens would be better than what you get now."

A spokeswoman for the Victorian Taxi Directorate said that while
operators had been given approval to install safety screens, she
did not know of any that had done so.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The Melbourne Herald Sun
(Melbourne, Australia)
August 10, 2006

Melbourne cabbies protest over safety

August 10, 2006 11:43pm

CAB drivers in Melbourne have parked their taxis outside state
parliament calling on the Bracks Government to improve safety
in the industry following the death of a driver this week.

Police say 27-year-old cabbie Rajneesh Joga was "in the wrong
place at the wrong time" on Tuesday night when he picked up an
alleged car thief, who then attempted to commandeer the taxi.

Mr Joga suffered critical head and chest injuries when the cab
crashed into a tree, and he died in a Melbourne hospital at 2am
(AEST) yesterday.

Up to 200 taxi drivers tonight parked their cabs along Spring
Street, between Victoria and Collins Streets.

Cabbie Nathan said they want better safety in taxis after the
death of Mr Joga.

"We want safety screens installed in the back seat," Nathan told
Southern Cross Radio.

"We want distress lights. There used to be distress lights in taxis
that used to warn the passers-by that used to say "driver in
distress please call Triple-O'.

"We also want a review of the security measures for the taxi
drivers.

"And we want inspectors to also ensure that taxi drivers are
working in a safe environment."

Eilyup Zaim, 20, of Broadmeadows has been charged with
murdering Mr Joga and with stealing a car and stealing petrol.

Zaim appeared briefly in Melbourne Magistrates' Court today and
was remanded in custody by Magistrate Dan Muling to face the
same court on November 30.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The Melbourne Herald Sun
(Melbourne, Australia)
August 12, 2006

Protest jams city

Liam Houlihan and Jacqueline Freegard
August 12, 2006 12:00am

A SPONTANEOUS protest by hundreds of angry taxi drivers
jammed the city yesterday and caused gridlock for city workers
and revellers last night.

The drivers parked their cabs across three major city roads and
staged a sit-in on tram tracks to voice their fury about safety,
police responses and racial slurs on the job.

An 11th hour meeting between protest leaders and Transport
Minister Peter Batchelor was brokered last night to get the
drivers back on the road.

But with up to 500 drivers vowing to keep the strike going,
Melburnians faced a taxi drought on a busyFriday night
compounded by an MCG football match and The Boy From Oz
at RodLaver Arena.

Parked cabs formed barricades along Flinders and Swanston
streets and St Kilda Rd about 10am yesterday and were still
there last night.

The sit-down, tram-stopping protest in Flinders St was dispersed
about midday when Opposition Leader Ted Baillieu spoke to the
assembled crowd and urged them to move off the road.

Premier Steve Bracks, who was holding a press conference
nearby at Federation Square, managed to avoidthe drivers.

Tensions in the taxi industry have come to a head following
recent assaults and the death of Melbourne taxi driver Rajneesh
Joga on Tuesday night.

The snap protest began at the airport yesterday morning before
moving to the inner city. It was organised by text messages and
drivers joined in after hearing about it onthe radio.

Cabbies held signs reading "We want stress-free work" and
"Down with Peter Batchelor and Steve Bracks".

The protest had no formal leaders, but drivers expressed a
desire to get organised and form a union.

One driver addressing the crowd was Cihangir Allan Ozluk, who
has been a Melbourne cabbie for six years.

"How many taxi drivers need to die before you take something
seriously?" he said.

"Does that mean drivers have to take the law into their own
hands like in the United States?"

Mr Ozluk told the crowd passengers who offended drivers about
their race or religion should get fines similar to those for smoking
in cabs.

Abrar Ghan, 28, has been driving a taxi for just a year and said
he was assaulted up to three times a week.

"Nobody protects the cabbie. Nobody provides security. We
need protection to do our job," Mr Ghan said.

"I have been assaulted. People have punched me and run off. It
happens all the time."

Saddique Mohammed said he chose to work during the day
because it was safer.

"I work the day shift but on the night shift everyone is attacked or
car damaged - we are really abused by drunks," he said.

He called for the Government to ensure security screens in
Melbourne taxis.

Mr Bracks refused to address the crowd and was forced to
retreat out a side door at Federation Square.

"We have already installed cameras in every taxi across
Victoria," he said later.

"We are working with the taxi directorate on other security
measures."

Mr Baillieu told the drivers he understood their concerns.

"I only hope the minister and the Premier have heard as well.
You want safety - Melburnians want safety," he said.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The Age
(Melbourne, Australia)
August 16, 2006

Driven to protest, cabbies demand safety, respect

Chris Johnston
August 16, 2006

THERE is a place near Melbourne Airport where the taxis have 
to wait until it is OK to join the queues at the terminals. They call 
it the holding rank. Drivers can eat, go to the toilet, watch 
television, sit down. It's like a kind of de facto social club.

This was where the action was yesterday before the big meeting 
at Flemington Racecourse with Transport Minister Peter 
Batchelor over driver safety.

The talk among many of the hundreds of drivers gathered there 
was of violence and crime. And disrespect. That is a big one for 
this new generation of Melbourne cabbies. They said that 
passengers did not respect them; they were racially abused and 
insulted. Not to mention attacked. Some of the tales were 
shocking.

Wasim Syed, born in Pakistan, had a knife held to his neck in 
Heidelberg Heights. His assailant threatened to chop him up and 
put the pieces in a bin.

Hardreet Singh, born in India, got into strife with drunks in St 
Kilda and claimed he got no help from police, a common gripe. 
Another, a North African, had a rope slipped around his neck 
from behind. Arun Badgujar, born in India, said unreported 
crimes against taxi drivers happened every night. The unknown 
victims, he said.

All these guys had also been called terrorists or curry-munchers 
or some such thing. They all were treated like idiots because 
they drove taxis, even though in their home countries they had 
white collar jobs - engineer, statistician, lab technician, things 
like that.

But they are the new generation, the agitators. The older hands 
- the career drivers, usually Greek or Italian with 10 years' 
experience or more - had no such agenda. To them, safety, 
back on the agenda after the death of young driver Rajneesh 
Joga last week, was not an issue.

The racial stuff they ignore. "If you cop that," said Nick 
Pseftoudis, 44, a driver for 12 years, "don't worry, they'll be out 
of your cab in 20 minutes, you'll never see them again."

Personal abuse they bat off with a joke. Threats they counter 
with the exact jail terms for the offences being committed. 
Demands for cash they agree to. "Just give them the money," 
said Chris Kannas, 56, a driver for eight years. "What are you 
going to do?"

But all these tricks only came with the street-wise wisdom from 
endless long shifts through the night.

The young crew, it was suggested, newer migrants perhaps, did 
not have the skills. They were possibly able to get into a risky job 
far too quickly.

Conflict resolution and self-defence needed to be taught at taxi 
school.

As did how to deal with the drunk, the violent and the fare 
"runners". Plus how to spot someone who was likely to cause 
trouble. And certain places to avoid at certain times.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The Melbourne Herald Sun
(Melbourne, Australia)
August 16, 2006


Bubbles burst cab driver fury

Liam Houlihan
August 16, 2006 12:00am

SAFETY bubbles to protect taxi drivers and a special cell of cab-
focused bureaucrats will be created to appease Melbourne's 
hundreds of cranky cabbies.

The city's taxi drivers have been on the warpath over security, 
police reaction times and racism since the killing of good 
samaritan cabbie Rajneesh Joga on Tuesday night.

More than 400 discontented drivers vented their anger at 
Transport Minister Peter Batchelor in a mass meeting at 
Flemington Racecourse yesterday.

The Government's response to the drivers' concerns would 
include screens and a security taskforce, it was announced.

The L-shaped plastic safety shield would separate drivers from 
back- and front-seat passengers. They will be tried within a 
fortnight, and cabbies' reactions will be surveyed to see whether 
they will be installed across the board.

Mr Batchelor cautioned operators -- who own but don't 
necessarily drive the city's cabs -- not to let greed disrupt reform.

"There is plenty of money going into the Victorian taxi industry, 
but not enough of it is seen by the people who do the hard work -
- the drivers," he said.

Other mooted changes include:

A TASKFORCE to explore ways to improve driver safety.

A NEW interactive website and e-newsletters for cab drivers.

AN ANTI-RACISM ad blitz aimed at taxi users.

GOVERNMENT help for grassroots campaigners to get 
organised and choose their leaders.

Yesterday's meeting was attended by more than 400 drivers.

The cabbies painted a picture of a job crunched by low wages, 
rude, abusive and racist customers, and a passive police force.

Driver Mohammed Jamala complained of being persecuted over 
uniform standards while owners refused to provide uniforms.

Another who introduced himself only as Wally said the 
community and drivers had lost respect for each other.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The Australian
(Sydney, Australia)
July 17, 2007

Cabbie murder suspect to stand trial

A MELBOURNE man accused of killing a cabbie after a wild police chase 
has pleaded not guilty to murder.

Eilyup Zaim, 21, of Broadmeadows, was today ordered to stand trial in 
the Victorian Supreme Court for the murder of Indian student and taxi 
driver, Rajneesh Joga, on August 8 last year.

Mr Joga, 27, died after being crushed between a tree and his taxi.

Mr Zaim had forced his way into the taxi and pushed Mr Joga out, 
according to documents tendered to the Melbourne Magistrates' Court 
today.

Mr Zaim is alleged to have stolen a Holden in Springvale Road, 
Donvale, about 8.25pm (AEST) the night Joga died and was pursued for 
more than 3km by police.

He allegedly blew both tyres on the Holden, dumped it on Springvale 
Road, entered Mr Joga's cab and forced him out of the car.

Mr Joga was clinging to the car as it travelled at about 30km/h before 
smashing into a tree, according to the court documents.

Mr Zaim allegedly tried to steal a truck after the crash but was 
restrained until emergency services arrived.

It is alleged he had amphetamines, cannabis and morphine in his blood 
at the time of the crash.

Today Zaim pleaded not guilty to one count each of murder, stealing 
a $2500 car and $71 of petrol.

Magistrate Donna Bakos remanded him in custody to appear for a 
directions hearing at the Victorian Supreme Court on October 9.

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