THE chauffeur at the centre of David Lammy’s taxi fare row told prosecutors he thought the Foreign Secretary was carrying a gun, bombshell papers reveal.
Shocking documents obtained by The Sun on Sunday also reveal that , 40, claimed to officials that two cars were following them on the 360-mile journey.
The prosecution files form the basis of a hearing set for November after Mr Mimun was charged with theft.
But they raise the embarrassing prospect of , 52, and his wife , 53, being called to France to give evidence.
They refer to the Foreign Secretary by his full name, David Lindon Lammy — but wrongly write LINDO — and contain several shocking allegations made by experienced VIP cabbie Mr Mimun, including the gun and cars.
Further pressure was heaped on the Foreign Office last night as The Sun on Sunday can reveal Mr Lammy did not have a security detail with him during
Officials are now looking into his security arrangements after the bust-up in the French Alps.
The taxi driver allegedly sped off with the couple’s luggage after they refused to pay an additional 700 euros (£590) which he insisted he was owed.
But the Foreign Office said the fare had been paid in full before the couple had set off.
Mr Mimun told prosecutors in an on-the-record statement contained in the legal documents: “When I received the transport request, the name of the victims was not mentioned nor that they were authority figures, which is what constitutes a transport risk so the tariff is not the same.
“I asked for 700 euros to be paid. They refused, and they left. He came towards me. I left in the car. I was scared, because I knew since Forli that he had a gun on him.
“I called the Swiss , I pressed on the GPS, to find the nearest police station or gendarmerie, and it indicated the municipal police of Cluses.
“By coincidence, they said I stole 700 euros from them. The suitcase had a code. We were followed from Italy by two vehicles because of her husband.”;;
The statement was given to vice-prosecutor Aude Menaige in the south-east city of Bonneville on May 6, three weeks after the trip.
It beggars belief that he was able to end up in this highly embarrassing situation
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp
Shadow Home Secretary MP slammed the humiliating saga and said: “David Lammy and the Foreign Office have serious questions to answer.
“Most importantly, did one of our most senior ministers and top diplomats have the proper security protection?
“It beggars belief that he was able to end up in this highly embarrassing situation.
“The public expect professionalism and care from those representing the UK on the world stage, especially from those most senior. Labour must come clean.”;;
Mr Lammy had no bodyguard in the car and it remained unclear when the booking was made and what vetting was done.
Serious concerns were raised this week over whether or not Mr Mimun had been vetted at all.
No evidence has yet emerged to support the claim Mr Lammy had a gun beyond Mr Mimun’s statement.
It would be unheard of for a British minister to carry a gun, especially overseas.
And sources close to Mr Lammy said he did not have one, saying: “It’s a completely absurd allegation. Of course he didn’t have a gun.
“The allegation speaks more to the character of the taxi driver than anything else.”;;
Mr Lammy also had no official documents with him.
But in an interview with The Sun on Sunday, Mr Mimun said: “When I bent down to pick up his luggage when we set off, I was at the height of Mr Lammy’s waist, and I saw he was carrying a firearm.
“When I asked for the 700 euros extra, Mr Lammy started screaming and shouting abuse.
“I could see in my rear-view mirror that he was coming for me and — because he had a gun on him — I sped off.”;;
Mr Mimun made several claims against the Foreign Secretary last week, which included accusing him of and
The Foreign Secretary vehemently denies any wrongdoing and said the fare was paid in full.
He was travelling for a private holiday after
It was understood he did not have his official red box or any sensitive documents with him.
Both he and his wife have been named as victims of theft.
The taxi row erupted when Mr Mimun drove Mr Lammy and his wife from Forli in Italy to Flaine, a ski village in Haute Savoie in the French Alps.
Mr Lammy sat in the back of the Ford Kuga, while Ms Green was in the front.
An agreed fare had already been paid to online marketplace
Mr Mimun asked for an additional £590 from Mr Lammy because of the higher risks associated with driving a VIP — but the Foreign Secretary refused.
The pickup was at 5pm on April 10, and the row is said to have intensified as they got to the French Alpine town of Clunes, close to the final destination.
‘Commercial dispute’
The driver had a row with Ms Green before driving off with their luggage to a police station, where he made a complaint.
Foreign Office sources revealed Ms Green said Mr Mimun had a knife in the glove box of his vehicle, which he opened to show her during a dispute over the fee.
But Mr Mimun insisted to The Sun that it was a silver pen.
He said he was not aware of any security detail travelling with Mr Lammy and his wife.
An investigation into a “commercial dispute”;; was opened by the Bonneville prosecutor’s office in Haute-Savoie.
A member of the Foreign Secretary’s office then contacted the driver to get the luggage back, and it was allegedly deposited at a police station with a sum of money missing from Ms Green’s bag.
It is thought to be equivalent to the amount the driver believed was owed to him.
Mr Mimun has been charged with theft.
Official sworn documents show he returned the items voluntarily, but prosecutors say it still counts as theft because of the length of time he had them.
He has been placed under judicial supervision on 2,000 euros bail with a driving ban and allowed to go free ahead of his trial.
He will appear in court on November 3 in Bonneville for “theft of cash and personal belongings”;;.
He has also shown The Sun on Sunday evidence that he has not yet received the agreed fare from GetTransfer.
He is suing Mr Lammy for more than 2,664 euros (£2,241), to include interest and legal fees paid to a firm of Paris bailiffs.
The money is to cover the whole fare, including the agreed fare the booker has not released to him and the VIP tariff.
The driver also complained to the British Embassy in , saying he just wanted to be paid.
GetTransfer said: “According to our internal records, Mr Lammy has indeed paid the full fare.
“The driver will receive payment in full by 23 May, consistent with our standard terms and conditions.
“We also have confirmation from Mr Lammy acknowledging completion of the journey, which finalises the contract between client and driver. Direct conflicts between client and driver fall outside our operational jurisdiction, as our responsibility is strictly limited to information facilitation.”;;
The Foreign Office had been approached for comment.
