Story By: Michael Leidig, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Central European News
A Swiss bus driver has been fired after he was filmed masturbating while driving passengers in the Swiss city of Lucerne.
The shocking incident took place on a bus operated by Verkehrsbetriebe Luzern (VBL) which is the main public transport provider in the central Swiss city of Lucerne.
The woman passenger who filmed the incident complain to the company, and they confirmed that they had acted immediately and fired the driver.
A pixelated picture printed in local media shows the man with his hand between his legs taken from a reflection in the rear-view mirror inside the bus that allows the driver to see the passengers – but also the passengers to see the driver.
It is believed the driver felt that he was separated enough to do what he was doing without being seen because of the barrier that had been set up to offer coronavirus protection.
Passengers are also only allowed to exit from the rear of the bus and the seat immediately behind the driver was blocked for use. But he had clearly forgotten about the mirror.
VBL spokesman Sami Deubelbeiss confirmed: “We are aware of this incident. The video was leaked to us without censorship. We strongly condemn this incident and apologise to all those affected.”
They said they had immediately opened disciplinary proceedings and then fired the driver the same day.
Swiss police also confirmed they were investigating because the man may have broken the road traffic laws. Lucerne police spokesman Urs Wigger said: “The law clearly states that the driver needs to be paying attention to the road and to other traffic when driving a vehicle.”
He added that the driver could also face sexual harassment charges if it was decided that other passengers were bothered by what he did.
VBL operates 92 buses and 74 trams and also has one funicular service.
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