Posted on the 21st January 2026 in PHTM News

'MIRACLE' £50K DEPOSIT: UBER DRIVER LOSES LICENCE APPEAL AFTER MYSTERY MONEY CLAIM

An Uber driver who claimed a total stranger "miraculously" transferred £50,000 into his bank account has failed in his bid to win back his taxi licence.

Amar Rangzab, 33, appeared at Bradford Magistrates’ Court on Friday, 16 January, to appeal the council’s decision to revoke his licence following fraud charges brought by The Insolvency Service.

While Rangzab maintains the money was a gift from a stranger in a car park, authorities allege the funds were actually a Covid bounce-back loan that was subsequently gambled away.

The court heard an extraordinary account of how Rangzab came into the money. The driver claimed he was having tea in a car park while discussing financial woes when a man in another vehicle offered to help.

“He told me he only needed my sort code, account number and address. I gave it to him and thought ‘what’s the worst that could happen?’” Rangzab told the court under oath. “A few days later I was surprised to see £50,000 in my account. I didn’t realise it was a bounce back loan. That’s the story.”

When questioned by Waseem Raja, representing Bradford Council, on whether he expected the court to believe such a tale, Rangzab replied: “That’s exactly what happened.”

The council’s decision to strip Rangzab of his licence was triggered by charges involving a bounce-back loan intended to support struggling businesses during the pandemic.

Mr. Raja stated: “These loans were on the condition that at some point the money should be paid back in full... but this money was not used by Rangzab for that purpose. It was spent on gambling, which made him unable to repay.”

Evidence also emerged regarding a separate loan application for a £3,000 watch, in which Rangzab allegedly claimed to own a property that actually belonged to his mother - an act he dismissed in court as an "innocent mistake."

Council officials remained sceptical of the driver’s consistency. Steven Knighton, Compliance Manager for Licensing, noted that Rangzab's story had shifted, previously claiming the "donor" was a customer in his taxi.

“We need to make sure people in a position of trust don’t abuse that position,” Mr. Knighton told the court.

Mr. Raja added: “In my submission Mr Rangzab’s honesty falls below the standard required of a taxi driver.”

Despite Rangzab’s insistence that he is a "fit and proper person" who has driven for 10 years without fraud complaints, Magistrates sided with the local authority. Describing Rangzab’s evidence as “inconsistent” and the council’s case as “credible,” the bench dismissed the appeal.

Rangzab, who has pleaded not guilty to the criminal fraud charges, is expected to stand trial in 2027.

His taxi licence remains revoked, and he was ordered to pay the council legal costs of £420.


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