American imprisoned For attacking Indian-Origin Sikh Cab Driver With Hammer

Swarn Singh was molested with a deadly weapon by Rory Benson in Dec 2017, according to Sikhs civil rights group The Sikh Coalition.

A man in the United States of America has been sentenced to 15 months in jail for viciously assaultive a 53-year-old Indian-origin Sikh taxi driver in Seattle last year.

Benson, who pleaded guilty to assaulting him, was sentenced to 15 months in jail by a court in Seattle on Fri.

Swarn Singh, who maintains Sikh articles of religion as well as unshorn hair and a turban, had parked outside an apartment house to drop off Benson and his mother.

Rory Benson, who was sitting in the front rider seat, tried to suffocate him with a bit of fabric kept in the taxi to wipe the screen, the coalition during a statement.

He directly ran out of the taxi, and Benson grabbed a hammer from his bag, chasing him on-foot. Benson hit Mr Singh in the head repeatedly, specifically targeting his turban and knock it to the ground, it said.

He suffered a scalp laceration and a skull fracture as a result of the attack and was rushed to hospital. Benson was arrested.

The coalition said it worked with Singh for 11 months to make sure the Bellevue police department and the King County Prosecuting Attorney's office were properly investigation the incident and reviewing applicable charges.

Mr Singh submitted a bearing statement to the King County judicature, urging his assailant to recognize the injury caused, description his injuries and therefore the impact of the assault on the Sikh community.