An Indian driving instructor and Perth local councillor is on trial accused of groping three women during their driving tests.
City of Belmont councillor Tamak Vijay, 39, faced Perth Magistrates Court on Thursday where he is defending three unlawful and indecent assault charges. It is alleged he touched and squeezed the thighs of three female clients during their assessments in February.
Vijay, who was working as a driving instructor for the Department of Transport at the time of the alleged assaults, pleaded not guilty to all three charges in April. He is currently on leave from the City of Belmont, The West Australian reported.
The court heard that on February 2 this year Vijay told a 29-year-old client to pull over before allegedly placing his hand on her thigh for 1o seconds, and then allegedly touched her thigh again for two minutes as he gave her feedback at the end of the test.
On February 8 Vijay allegedly told a 35-year-old client to pull over, and allegedly put his hand on her thigh and squeezed it for four or five seconds, the court was told.
The court heard that on February 13 Vijay allegedly placed his hand on the thigh of a 31-year-old client three times during her driving assessment.
All three female clients were “foreign born” and passed their assessments, police prosecutor Pat Prest said.
Defence lawyer Rachel Porter questioned the 35-year-old complainant, raising concerns she had spoken with other witnesses, and told the court Vijay was simply an “overhelpful” instructor, and that the alleged touching was not “inherently” indecent, ABC News reported.
Department of Transport compliance officer David Neal said there was a “no physical contact policy” except in emergencies, and that there has been no disciplinary complaints about Vijay since he began the role in 2022.
The trial continues.
