Thursday, May 31, 2007
Extortion Against Incoming Passengers By Contract Company Drivers
Crime
(Azzaman Newspaper) - 30 MAY - Iraqi passengers have asked the Ministry of Transport to investigate the transport car drivers at Baghdad Airport, who they describe as thieves because they extort the passengers by increasing the transport costs. The drivers said that they are charging more because of the security situation and that their lives are in danger.
Citizen Zainab Hussein, 35 years old, said that the drivers at Baghdad Airport are extorting the passengers and they charged her and two of her colleagues 150,000 ID to bring take them from the airport to Baghdad city. Mohammed Kadhm, 50 years old, said that the drivers refused to go to a certain area in Baghdad because of the security situation and they said that they are wanted [by terrorists] because they work in the airport. The drivers are also afraid of their cars being stolen because they are new. Kadhm said, “They forced us to give them the money they wanted to transport us. We do not have any other choice for transportation.”
Saad Abdallah, 42 years old, said, “I suffered when I returned from the airport because the driver asked us to pay 75,000 ID, then they took an extra 40,000 ID when we asked him to drive us two kilometers farther.” The passengers said that this is a clear extortion operation against them and they asked for the drivers to be punished because they act as if they own the cars themselves.
Up until now our newspaper has not received any explanation from Iraqi Airways about these incidents. On the other side, tens of passengers who are on their way to Amman are stuck in the airport for two days because there is no plan to transport them and this phenomenon is repeated many times which forces them to stay the night and sleep in the airport rooms. Our newspaper reporter, who was one of those stuck in the airport said, “The Parliament and government officials take the seats on the aircraft without reservations. They do not care that there are businessmen and patients that have appointments and cannot be delayed.”
Citizen Zainab Hussein, 35 years old, said that the drivers at Baghdad Airport are extorting the passengers and they charged her and two of her colleagues 150,000 ID to bring take them from the airport to Baghdad city. Mohammed Kadhm, 50 years old, said that the drivers refused to go to a certain area in Baghdad because of the security situation and they said that they are wanted [by terrorists] because they work in the airport. The drivers are also afraid of their cars being stolen because they are new. Kadhm said, “They forced us to give them the money they wanted to transport us. We do not have any other choice for transportation.”
Saad Abdallah, 42 years old, said, “I suffered when I returned from the airport because the driver asked us to pay 75,000 ID, then they took an extra 40,000 ID when we asked him to drive us two kilometers farther.” The passengers said that this is a clear extortion operation against them and they asked for the drivers to be punished because they act as if they own the cars themselves.
Up until now our newspaper has not received any explanation from Iraqi Airways about these incidents. On the other side, tens of passengers who are on their way to Amman are stuck in the airport for two days because there is no plan to transport them and this phenomenon is repeated many times which forces them to stay the night and sleep in the airport rooms. Our newspaper reporter, who was one of those stuck in the airport said, “The Parliament and government officials take the seats on the aircraft without reservations. They do not care that there are businessmen and patients that have appointments and cannot be delayed.”
Labels: Baghdad International Airport, transportation
