Polo playing businessman boasted about cash before punching cab driver in row over route
Simon Rubel Lo Gatto also claimed 'I’m a mafia man. I can do whatever I want'
A POLO-playing businessman bragged 'I’m a rich man' before punching a minicab driver in the face in a row over which route to take, a court heard.
Wealthy Simon Rubel Lo Gatto, 44, left Nakalingam Koneswaran with a black eye after returning back to the UK from attending the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
The wealthy owner of a leading Italian luxury office furniture company also claimed “I’m a mafia man. I can do whatever I want” during the assault, Ealing magistrates court heard. He then threatened to hit the driver again if he stopped the car.
Lo Gatto had ordered a minicab from Heathrow Airport to his £1.15m apartment in Wimbledon Village on November 30 last year.
However, during the journey he changed his mind and demanded to be taken to Brinkley’s Garden, a restaurant in Hollywood Road, Little Chelsea to meet his girlfriend.
“He was sitting behind me and slapped my left arm,” Sri Lankan-born Mr Koneswaran told the court.
“He said: ‘I’m a rich man, do you know my family? We’re a valuable family.’
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“As I turned around he punched my face - the left eye - and I told him to get out, but he said: ‘If you stop I’ll punch you again.’
“I was scared that he would punch me again and when I dropped him off I said: ‘Thank-you’ and he said: ‘F*** off.’
“This was very painful for me and swollen the next day, a black eye. This incident traumatised me and I am scared if someone shouts at me from behind.”
Lo Gatto is the European MD of Interoffice, a sponsor of his polo team, and the company counts Rolls Royce, Microsoft, The FA, Mishcon De Reya and L’Oreal among its clients.
The Ham Polo Club member is also a partner and international ambassador for Dubai Fashion TV and Dubai’s five-star Royal Ghantoot Marina and Resort.
Prosecutor Bhavin Patel told the court Lo Gatto left Mr Koneswaran to guard his suitcase at the airport while he headed off to the bar before their journey.
“There was a disagreement as they neared Chiswick, with the defendant shouting they were in the wrong lane for the A4”, he said.
“Mr. Koneswaran told the defendant he was in the correct lane and Mr. Lo Gatto replied: ‘You f***ing talking to me?’
He was treating me like a servant. I’ve never had anyone treating me like that
Nakalingam Koneswaran, cab driver
“He then punched him in the left eye and said: ‘I’m a mafia man. I can do whatever I want’.”
The mini-cab driver told the magistrates: “He was treating me like a servant. I’ve never had anyone treating me like that.
“He walked like a proud man and he was ignoring me and demanding me to do things.”
When Lo Gatto was arrested at home on December 4, he denied drinking on the flight or being drunk and told the court: “He starts being a little rude and we began to argue loudly.
“I knew he was in the wrong lane and the word ‘f***’ was used by both sides.”
He denied punching the driver but was found guilty of assault after a short trial.
However Mark Haslam, defending, said: “He’s a hard-working, self-employed man. He does not accept the findings of the court and has lodged a notice of appeal.”
Magistrates sentenced the businessman to a twelve-month community order, including 80 hours of community service.
He must also pay Mr Koneswaran £100 compensation, as well as a £60 victim surcharge and £620 court costs.
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