Yellowknife taxi driver charged with assault on passenger

Yellowknife RCMP say they have charged a local taxi driver with assault in relation to a widely-publicized incident in which a resident says he was attacked after beingrefused a ride to a bank machine to pay his fare.

MatarMahamedMahamud, 48, has been charged with one count of assault causing bodily harm, the RCMPsaid Wednesday in a news release.

The incident happenedin the early morning hours of July 24 and received significant attention on social media after the alleged victim, Angus Durrie of Yellowknife, posted on Facebook thathe was repeatedly punched in the face by a cab driver. He said he told the driver he didn't have cash to pay his fare and claimed the driver refused to take him to an ATM to withdraw cash.

• 'I got punched in the face': Charges pending against Yellowknife cab driver for alleged assault

Durrie was taken to the hospital with two black eyes, and was treated and released that day.

Mahamud will make his first appearance in territorial court September 19.