The Taxi Traffic Act states that anyone who wants to become a licensed driver in Sweden must meet certain requirements.

Among other things, a driver must comply with the law - and this is checked by the Swedish Transport Agency.

- Anyone who gets into a car alone with a driver is in a vulnerable position.

The drivers are tested so that the customer can feel safe, says Markus Edsbagge who is section manager at the Swedish Transport Agency.

Had previously bought sex

If a driver commits a crime, the Swedish Transport Agency is notified.

Depending on the seriousness of the crime, the authority may choose to either issue a warning or revoke the identification.

Today, Markus Edsbagge believes that more IDs are being revoked than before, but despite the fact that the now convicted rape taxi driver in Malmö had previously bought sex, abused his wife and committed four different traffic offenses, he was allowed to continue working.

- It depends on several things.

We were informed of the abuse he committed in 2018, but according to the court, it should be mitigating that the abuse did not take place on duty.

I'm not sure we agree with that, but we must follow practice, says Markus Edsbagge.

"Would have looked different if he had done it today"

Until 2017, the police did not inform the Swedish Transport Agency if a taxi driver had been convicted of buying sexual services.

Thereafter, the notification requirements between the authorities were changed.

- This driver committed the crime in 2014, but we found out four years later.

Time passed and then the circumstances eased.

If he had bought sex today, his ID would have been revoked immediately, says Markus Edsbagge.

Will not be allowed to drive for years

The taxi driver received the latest warning about six months before he raped a 16-year-old girl during a taxi ride.

On September 7, Malmö District Court sentenced him to two years and three months in prison.

- He will probably not be allowed to drive a taxi for at least 20 years, if ever, says Markus Edsbagge.

See the clip above to hear Markus Edsbagge from the Swedish Transport Agency.